Vietnam Parliament Passes Law on Cyber Information Safety

The parliament building in capital city of Hanoi

The parliament building in capital city of Hanoi

Vietnam’s highest legislative body National Assembly on Nov. 19 approved the Law on Cyber Information Safety, aiming to better control the flow of information on the Internet in the communist-controlled country as well as to prevent the use by cyber networks for terrorism purpose.

by KTT, Nov 19, 2015

Vietnam’s highest legislative body National Assembly on Nov. 19 approved the Law on Cyber Information Safety, aiming to better control the flow of information on the Internet in the communist-controlled country as well as to prevent the use by cyber networks for terrorism purpose.

The law, to take effect starting on July 1, 2016, assigns the government to build detailed guidelines, responsibilities, and measures to prevent the use of Internet for terrorism purpose.

Among measures listed to prevent terrorism are (i) disabling the Internet sources of the activities and (ii) preventing the establishment and expansion of information on signals, factors, and methods and Internet usage as a means to carry out a terrorist act.

The law also highlights the need to share experience among agencies and with foreign competent authorities in controlling the Internet sources, searching and monitoring e-portals with the aim of terrorism.

In addition, the law also prohibits the collection, use, distribution, and illegal trading of personal information, taking advantage of loopholes and weaknesses in the information systems to collect and exploit personal information.

Vietnam, whose population is over 91 million, has a high Internet penetration rate of 48%. However, international rights groups have often criticized Vietnam for its widespread Internet censorship.

According to Freedom House, Vietnam is rated “not free” with a score of 76 on a scale of 100-worst in the Freedom on the Net 2015. With 29 netizens imprisoned, Vietnam continues to be one of the worst jailers of bloggers in the world.

In the latest development, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang said at a recent meeting that the police forces would strictly punish anyone who upload content that stirs up terrorism and Islamic extremism. The statement was made after many Vietnamese reportedly created fake Facebook accounts of the militant Islamic State members.