Vietnam: stricter controls on freedom of expression on the internet

Vietnam has begun implementing Decree 147, which expands regulation of internet services, and Decree 126, which establishes stricter control over associations, amid concerns that these new measures will further restrict digital rights and civil liberties in the country.

Decree 147 expands the provisions of the Cybersecurity Law of 2018, which penalizes the publication of online content that may “oppose the State, spread false information that causes public confusion, offend others [y] violate national security.”

The new decree, which came into force on December 25, 2024, requires technology companies operating in Vietnam to verify the identity of users, store data and remove content considered illegal by the authorities.

Human Rights Watch stated that the provisions of the new decree “neither protect the public from legitimate security concerns nor respect fundamental human rights.” In addition, he warned about the serious implications of the new regulations for dissidents.

Decree 147 requires “foreign organizations, companies and individuals” to verify users’ accounts using their phone numbers or personal identification number, exposing dissidents, who often post anonymously, to the risk of being arrested.

Tran Anh Quan, a Vietnamese activist living in exile, shared the same concern in an interview with Voice of America.

Dissidents in Vietnam often use fake accounts or do not verify their social media accounts to avoid being fined by the police. However, this decree requires users to verify their identity on social networks. And those who express dissent will certainly be considered violators of regulations for posting “harmful” or “anti-state” content.

In an interview with AFP, blogger and human rights activist Nguyen Hoang Vi, based in Ho Chi Minh City, noted that the new decree “may encourage self-censorship, where people avoid expressing dissenting opinions to protect their safety, which “Ultimately, it harms the overall development of democratic values” in the country.

In a media interview, former political prisoner Le Anh Hung highlighted that this was “the latest sign of violation of basic freedoms… with a blurred line between what is legal and what is not.”

For his part, Nguyen Tien Ma, from the Cyber ​​Security Department of the Ministry of Communications, defended the need to verify users. “Account authentication helps authorities identify the true identity behind the account, providing good support for the investigation and handling of breaches.”

Decree 147 also obliges owners of public internet access points, such as hotels, restaurants, airports and other public spaces, to prevent internet users from carrying out “propaganda against the State.” Likewise, gambling restrictions are imposed on minors to prevent addiction, allowing players in internet cafes to only play a maximum of 180 minutes per day.