Vietnam Proposes Draft Decree Tightening Control Over Social Networks

• Vietnam’s government published a draft decree proposing amendments and new regulations related to internet services and online information.
• If implemented, only licensed social networks will be allowed to provide livestreaming services and other revenue-generating services for users.
• Vietnam Briefing highlights major revisions in this draft decree in relation to social networks in Vietnam, as well as the obligations imposed on foreign social network providers.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on July 6  issued a draft decree to amend both Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP (Decree 72) on the management, provision and use of internet services and online information and Decree No.27/2018/ND-CP (Decree 27) which amended and supplemented several articles in Decree No.72. The draft decree is now open for public consultation via the Government Portal.

With the proposed amendment, the government aims to tighten control over livestreaming activities that generate revenue on social networks and impose obligations on cross-border social network service providers in Vietnam such as Facebook and YouTube.

We summarize the bullet points and implications for foreign providers of social networks in Vietnam here.                           

What it means for foreign social network providers in Vietnam

The new proposed draft plans to strengthen the cybersecurity sphere in Vietnam, considering the massive domestic demand for foreign providers of social networks – such as Facebook with 65 million users in Vietnam, YouTube with 60 million users, and Tiktok with 20 million users, according to the MIC. While Vietnamese social media firms are still growing strong, their influence and popularity nationwide are limited compared to foreign social network providers.

According to the MIC, these foreign firms have yet to fully comply with Vietnamese laws. The authorities are concerned with the spread of fake news and infringing content circulating on social networking sites being inadequately supervised by cross-border information providers, causing social instability.

The draft decree if implemented may have a significant impact on organizations, enterprises, and individuals engaged in social network provisions across the border. The lengthy licensing procedures, restriction on the mobility of information as well as timely compliance are some of the issues that foreign investors may have to take into consideration in providing social network services in Vietnam.

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