Hanoi (VNA) – The strong development of digital technology has made the protection of national sovereignty, independence, security, social order and people in the cyberspace an urgent need for every country and Vietnam is no exception. Vietnam has been working to establish a standardised legal framework to create a safe, healthy, and sustainable digital environment.
However, certain groups, organisations, and individuals with hostile attitudes and ill will towards Vietnam always seek to sabotage and distort Vietnam's policies on data and Internet management.
After the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the Law on Data on November 30, some foreign media outlets such as RFA, BBC, and VOA, along with the “Viet Tan” terrorist organisation, alleged that the law "will harm foreign companies" by "infringing on privacy" and "stifling innovation." They particularly focused attention on the stipulations that require organisations and individuals to provide data upon State agencies' request in exceptional situations, including emergencies, threats to national security, disasters, or riots and terrorism; and that the transfer of critical data across borders must be approved by competent State agencies.
It is obvious that those allegations have deliberately distorted the true purpose of data management in Vietnam, which is to safeguard national sovereignty and security, ensure timely response to emergencies, and protect citizens from threats such as terrorism and riots, secure information safety and protect critical digital assets of the country, thus preventing the risk of “core data” from being exploited.
The promulgation of the Law on Data is absolutely essential, not only to safeguard the country and maintain social stability but also to protect the rights of citizens and foreign investors participating in economic activities in Vietnam.
Vietnam is also in the process of drafting a law on personal data protection to ensure and enhance the legal rights and interests of data subjects while concretising Vietnam’s international commitments to implementing human rights and citizens' rights.
Many countries worldwide have also issued regulations on the operation, exploitation, and use of data by government agencies, organisations, businesses, and individuals, such as the Data Act applied in 27 member states of the European Union (EU), the Open Government Data Act of the Republic of Korea (RoK), and the Personal Information Protection Law of China.
Similarly, hostile forces have also intentionally mispresented Decree 147/2024/ND-CP on the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information, which is set to take effect on December 25.
They claimed that the regulation requiring user identity verification on social media is an "invasion of privacy" and "restricts freedom of speech and Internet freedom." They ignore the fact that not only Vietnam but also many countries worldwide are implementing strict Internet management measures to ensure cybersecurity and safety in the digital space.
China has deployed a real-name registration system for social media services since 2017, requiring users to verify their accounts with personal information. The US has also implemented cybersecurity measures, including regulations on information sharing and combating cyberterrorism. In the EU, the Digital Services Act mandates that major tech companies such as Meta, Google, and Amazon bear greater legal responsibility for combating fake news and harmful contents.
In reality, with the explosion of social media, the spread of fake news, online fraud, and illegal activities on the Internet are becoming major threats to society.
In the first nine months of 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications recorded more than 22,200 complaints related to online fraud, with 70% of the fraud cases occurring on social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook.
In this context, along with the 2018 Law on Cyber Security and related regulations, Decree 147/2024/ND-CP has provided an additional layer of protection to better safeguard national sovereignty and security, and protect citizens from the unpredictable and complex risks of the virtual world.
In an increasingly digitalised and globalised world, the effective management of data and cyberspace plays a vital role, contributing to protecting national security and the legal interests of citizens.
Apart from consistently upholding policies on respecting and protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of press, right to information access, and freedom of the use of internet in general and social networks in particular, the Vietnamese State is actively refining its legal framework to ensure citizens' right to safety and security in cyberspace and the digital environment. This is a truth that cannot be distorted.
The actions of certain individuals, groups, and organisations that are trying to distort the nature of Vietnam's data and Internet management policies, are actually a ploy to incite opposition against the socialist regime and hinder and obstruct Vietnam’s development./.
