Critics decry Vietnam’s ‘draconian’ new internet law
Social media users will need to verify their identities under new decree 147, prompting fears it will undermine expression and expose anonymous dissidents
Social media users in Vietnam on platforms including Facebook and TikTok will need to verify their identities as part of strict new internet regulations that critics say further undermine freedom of expression in the communist country.
The law, which comes into force on Christmas Day, will compel tech companies operating in Vietnam to store user data, provide it to authorities on request, and remove content the government regards as “illegal” within 24 hours.
Decree 147, as it is known, builds on a 2018 cybersecurity law that was sharply criticised by the US, EU and internet freedom advocates who said it mimics China’s repressive internet censorship.
Vietnam’s hardline administration generally moves swiftly to stamp out dissent and arrest critics, especially those who find an audience on social media.
