Vietnam's Draconian New Internet Law Goes Into Effect

Social media users in Vietnam, including those on TikTok and Facebook, will be required to verify their identities as part of restrictive new internet laws, which opponents argue will further weaken freedom of speech in the communist country.

The law, which goes into effect on Christmas Day, would require tech companies operating in Vietnam to preserve user data, offer it to authorities upon request, and remove content deemed "illegal" within 24 hours.

Decree 147, as it is known, is based on a 2018 cybersecurity law that was heavily criticized by the US, EU, and internet freedom advocates for resembling China's draconian internet censorship.

Vietnam's sweeping Internet law goes into effect

According to VNExpress, all social media platforms have 90 days to provide authorities with data on "the total number of regular visits from Vietnam" and the number of regular users every month.

"Decree 147 will be used to suppress those with different viewpoints publicly," claimed activist Dang Thi Hue, who has 28,000 Facebook followers and blogs about politics and social issues.

The order was "the latest sign of infringement of basic freedoms... with a vague line between what is legal and what is not," said former political prisoner Le Anh Hung.

"Nobody wants to go to jail. So, of course, some activists would be wary and fearful of this decision."

More to explore: Apple is Said to Bring iOS 19 Support Just to These iPhones