Vietnam’s new internet regulations, set to take effect on December 25, have sparked concerns among critics who fear the law will further restrict freedom of expression in the communist country. The strict measures require social media users on platforms like Facebook and TikTok to verify their identities, while tech companies operating in Vietnam must store user data, provide it to authorities upon request, and remove content deemed “illegal” by the government within 24 hours. Decree 147 builds upon the controversial 2018 cybersecurity law, which faced sharp criticism from the US, EU, and internet freedom advocates for mimicking China’s repressive internet censorship.
Vietnam’s hardline administration is known for swiftly stamping out dissent and arresting critics, particularly those who gain a following on social media. Critics argue that the new decree will expose dissidents who post anonymously to the risk of arrest. Nguyen Hoang Vi, a blogger and rights activist based in Ho Chi Minh City, told AFP, “Many people work quietly but effectively in advancing the universal values of human rights.” She warned that Decree 147 “may encourage self-censorship, where people avoid expressing dissenting views to protect their safety – ultimately harming the overall development of democratic values” in Vietnam.
internet censorship concerns in Vietnam
Le Quang Tu Do, a representative from the ministry of information and communications (MIC), stated that the decree aims to “regulate behavior in order to maintain social order, national security, and national sovereignty in cyberspace.” The new laws also include restrictions on gaming for those under 18 to prevent addiction, with game publishers expected to enforce time limits of one hour per session and no more than 180 minutes per day. Vietnam has a significant online presence, with the MIC estimating that the country has about 65 million Facebook users, 60 million on YouTube, and 20 million on TikTok.
Under the new regulations, these tech giants, along with all “foreign organizations, enterprises, and individuals,” must verify users’ accounts via phone numbers or Vietnamese identification numbers and store that information alongside their full name and date of birth. They are required to provide this data to the MIC or the ministry of public security upon demand. Human Rights Watch has called on the Vietnamese government to repeal the “draconian” decree.
Patricia Gossman, HRW’s associate Asia director, stated, “Vietnam’s new Decree 147 and its other cybersecurity laws neither protect the public from any genuine security concerns nor respect fundamental human rights. Because the Vietnamese police treat any criticism of the Communist Party of Vietnam as a national security matter, this decree will provide them with yet another tool to suppress dissent.”
