Critics of the new cybersecurity law in Vietnam claims that it is "pervasive" and a "totalitarian model of information control". The law gives the Vietnamese authorities to remove content that is against the state.
The cybersecurity law came into effect on Tuesday despite the criticisms it gets from the United States, the European Union, and the internet freedom advocates. Aside from the repressive internet censorship, the law also requires companies like Facebook and Google to hand over user data if needed by the government.
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security initially published a draft degree that gives directions on how the law should be implemented in November. The draft provided the internet service in Vietnam a 12-month timeframe to comply.
According to the ministry, the cybersecurity bill is aimed to protect Vietnam from cyber-security attacks and to track down "hostile and reactionary forces" that uses the internet to initiate violence and dissent.
In response to the law, the social media giant, Facebook, said that they are committed to protecting the rights of its users and they are enabling everyone to express themselves freely and safely. The company said in a statement that they will remove content that violates the company's standards when they are made aware of it. The tech giant also emphasized that they have a clear process to manage requests from government s around the world.
Vietnam said that the giant search platform, Google, is taking steps to open up an office in the country to comply with the requirements of the new law.
The new cybersecurity law also bans internet users from posting anti-state or anti-government information. It also prohibits them from spreading fake news that might cause damage to the country's socio-economic activities. Critics of the government claim that online freedom in Vietnam is shrinking in the administration of its current leader. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed their concern as they advise the Vietnamese government to revise the law and to postpone its implementation.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of HRW, said that the law is designed to further enable the Ministry of Public Security's pervasive surveillance to spot critics and to deepen the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
A week prior to the implementation of the new law, the Vietnam Journalists Association proclaimed a new code of conduct on the use of social media to be followed by its members. It forbids them from posting news, pictures, and comments that "run counter to" the state.
