Vietnam Enacts Sweeping Internet Law Tightening Government Control

Decree 147 mandates user identity verification, data sharing with authorities, and strict content removal requirements, raising concerns over freedom of expression.

• Decree 147 requires social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities using phone numbers or national ID numbers and store personal data such as full names and dates of birth.
• The law obligates companies to provide user data to authorities upon request and remove content deemed 'illegal' within 24 hours.
• Critics argue the decree infringes on free speech and will suppress dissent, with activists and human rights organizations warning of its potential to stifle civil society.
• The law also restricts livestreaming to verified accounts, impacting individuals who rely on social media for income, and imposes gaming limits for minors to prevent addiction.
• Decree 147 builds on Vietnam's 2018 cybersecurity law, which has been criticized for its resemblance to China's internet censorship practices.

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