Vietnam to tighten control over social media with new decree

Users have 90 days to comply, after which they will no longer be able to post stories, comment, share or make live videos on social networks, Agenzia Nova reports.

Decree 147, which further tightens controls on content posted on global websites like YouTube and large social media platforms, will take effect in Vietnam on December 25.

The decree’s approval has already raised concerns about the growing use of the law to stifle freedom of expression. The measure will require internet giants to store data that they can provide to authorities upon request, and to remove “illegal” content from their platforms within 24 hours.

The decree further tightens provisions in Vietnam’s 2018 cybersecurity law, which has been heavily criticized by the United States, the European Union and civil liberties groups.

The Vietnamese government also issued a decree last month on the management, provision and use of the internet and online information, requiring cross-border social media operators such as Meta’s Facebook and Alphabet’s Google to authenticate Vietnamese users’ profiles by requiring them to provide a mobile phone number or personal identification number.

Users have 90 days to comply, after which they will no longer be able to post stories, comment, share or live stream on social media. The order also requires cross-border companies that disseminate information to provide details of Vietnamese users to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant authorities upon written request.

Earlier Kazinform News Agency reported that Australia had proposed social media ban for children under 16.