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July 29, 2016 - Vietnam’s National Assembly issued Resolution No. 22/2016/QH14 on the 2016 Adjustment of the Law and Ordinance Development and the 2017 Law and Ordinance Development Program. The Law on Security Cybersecurity was one of the six projects submitted to the National Assembly for opinions at the fourth session. [1]

November 2016 - Following the passing of the resolution by the National Assembly, the drafting process of the Cybersecurity Law began. Members of the Drafting Committee included the ministries of public security, information and telecommunications, national defense, planning and investment, and industry and trade. [2]

June 2017- The Ministry of Public Security started to gather public opinions to finalize the draft Cybersecurity Law, which would later be submitted to the government and the National Assembly. [3]

May 29, 2018 - Nguyen Sy Dung, former vice chairman of the Office of the National Assembly, said that the draft law’s requirement to “localize” users' general data is unrealistic and lacks feasibility. [4]

May 31, 2018 - Many Vietnamese experts claimed that the draft of the Cybersecurity Law contained many unclear concepts. In particular, “the information system for national security,” the most important idea that this law aims to protect, is too general and not specific. [5]

June 7, 2018 - Human Rights Watch (HRW) appealed to the Vietnamese government to “veto the Cybersecurity Law.” [6]

Simultaneously, thousands of Vietnamese citizens petitioned to protest the Cybersecurity Law. On Change.org (a popular online platform for creating and signing petitions on various issues to advocate for change and raise awareness), there were at least two petitions opposing this bill; the petitions were able to garner 11,000 signatures by the end of the day. [7]

June 8, 2018 - The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam issued a statement: The United States and Canada urged Vietnam to delay the vote on the draft law to ensure it aligns with international standards. [8]

June 9, 2018 - Amnesty International sent open letters to executives of Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung, calling on these companies to “challenge” the Cybersecurity Law and “inform the Vietnamese government that [they] will not comply with any request or directive that violates basic human rights.” [9]

Morning, June 10, 2018 - Thousands of people in many Vietnamese provinces and cities took to the streets to protest against the Law on Special Administrative and Economic Units (the Law on Special Economic Zones) and the Cybersecurity Law, which was submitted to the National Assembly during a meeting in Hanoi. [10]

On the same day, Maj. Gen. Nguyen Minh Duc, a standing member of the National Assembly’s National Defense and Security Committee, told the People’s Public Security newspaper – a mouthpiece of the Ministry of Public Security – that the Cybersecurity Bill does not prevent Vietnam from fulfilling its international commitments. [11]

Evening, June 11, 2018 - Luat Khoa Magazine and The Vietnamese Magazine, two online newspapers that took the lead in opposing the Cybersecurity Law, were targeted by denial of service (DDoS) attacks. [12] The attacks lasted about a week, leaving their websites almost paralyzed.

June 12, 2018 - The Cybersecurity Law received approval from the National Assembly of Vietnam, with 86.86% of the total lawmakers voting in favor — 423 out of 466. 15 lawmakers voted against the law and 28 abstained from voting. [13]

On the same day, a petition on Change.org called on Vietnam’s state president to veto the Cybersecurity Law because it infringed upon the rights to privacy and confidentiality, impeding freedom of speech and depriving people of the right to internet freedom. The petition received tens of thousands of signatures. [14]

Amnesty International also released a press release in which Clare Algar, its global director, expressed concern about the devastating consequences caused by this law for freedom of expression in Vietnam. [15]

June 14, 2018 - France-based press freedom advocate Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that Vietnam’s Cybersecurity Law is a copy of another Cybersecurity Law that took effect in China in June 2017. A representative of RSF in the Asia-Pacific region regarded the law as a tool to strengthen the Vietnamese government’s control over access to information. The organization also called on Vietnam to abolish the Cybersecurity Law. [16]

June 15, 2018 - Lt. Gen. Hoang Phuoc Thuan, director of the Cyber Security Department under the Ministry of Public Security, claimed that there was no possibility that the Cybersecurity Law would enable authorities to monitor all social media accounts. On the contrary, he said that implementing this law has elevated the protection of the rights and interests of organizations and individuals to unprecedented levels. [17]

June 25, 2018 - Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang signed an order to announce the passing of the Cybersecurity Law. [18]

July 6, 2018 - Luat Khoa Magazine sent a letter, signed by concerned Vietnamese Facebook users, to Facebook’s headquarters in California, requesting the social media organization to clarify its stance on its policy in Vietnam following the issuance of the Cybersecurity Law.

July 8, 2018 - Many Catholic communities in Central Vietnam took to the streets to peacefully protest against the Cybersecurity Law. [20]

July 17, 2018 - Change.org petitioned the National Assembly to postpone the implementation of the Cybersecurity Law and to amend it. Many civil organizations in Vietnam signed the document in support. [21]

August 2018 - The Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention was established by merging the Cybersecurity Department (under the Security General Department) and the High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (under the Police General Department). Maj. Gen. Nguyen Minh Chinh was appointed as the head of this new government agency. [22]

September 5, 2018 - During a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said that aside from a few exceptions, Facebook does not place its servers in Vietnam. She insisted that the company never leaked sensitive user information to the Vietnamese government. [23] [24]

September 7, 2018 - The Ministry of Public Security issued Decision No. 5117/QD-BCA to establish a drafting board and an editorial team to develop governmental decrees in guiding the implementation of the Cybersecurity Law. [25]

October 2018 - The Ministry of Public Security published the complete draft decree detailing articles of the Cybersecurity Law to gauge public opinion. [26]

December 13, 2018 - The Financial Times reported that Facebook, Google, and other technology corporations urged Vietnam to abolish the requirement that tech companies store data in the country. [27]

December 21, 2018 - The European Union delegation to Vietnam raised concerns about the Cybersecurity Law with the Vietnamese government. [28]

January 1, 2019 - The Cybersecurity Law came into effect. [29]

August 15, 2022 - The Vietnamese government issued Decree No. 53/2022/ND-CP, detailing several articles of the Cybersecurity Law. In particular, it stipulates that foreign companies must comply with censorship requirements and provide user data to the Vietnamese government when there is an alleged violation of the Cybersecurity Law. Otherwise, the Minister of Public Security will require these companies to store user data and have to open their physical offices in Vietnam.

The above Decree took effect on October 1, 2022 . [30]

November 15, 2022 - Nhan Dan Newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Vietnamese Communist Party, published an article stating that the Cybersecurity Law, the Law on Cyber Information Security, the Law on Protection of State Secrets, and the 2015 Penal Code had collectively formed a relatively complete legal system on cyber security, providing a legal basis to help authorities perform their duties in cyberspace. [31]

April 17, 2023 - The Vietnamese government issued Decree No. 13/2023/ND-CP on protecting personal data. [32]

May 8, 2023 - Deputy Minister of Information and Telecommunications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that by the end of 2023, the ministry will advise and submit to the government another decree. In this new decree, all social media users must authenticate their identity. [33]

June 19, 2023 - The Washington Post reported that Facebook has an internal list of “inviolable” officials of the Vietnamese Communist Party, suggesting that content that criticizes these officials is banned on Facebook. [34]

July 17, 2023 - The Ministry of Information and Telecommunications announced a new draft decree to replace Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP on the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information and Decree No. 27/2018/ND-CP, which was issued to amend and supplement Decree 72/2013/ND-CP. [35]

Many new requirements are present in this draft. For example, it requires social media users in Vietnam to authenticate their mobile phone numbers. At the same time, the government can order tech companies to temporarily or permanently block a social network account, community page, or group that allegedly violates the law. [36]

Trong Phung wrote this article in Vietnamese, which was published in Luat Khoa Magazine on July 20, 2023. Dat Le translated the article into English.

References: 1. thuvienphapluat.vn. (2016). Nghị quyết 22/2016/QH14 điều chỉnh Chương trình xây dựng luật pháp lệnh 2016 2017. Thuvienphapluat.vn. https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Bo-may-hanh-chinh/Nghi-quyet-22-2016-QH14-dieu-chinh-Chuong-trinh-xay-dung-luat-phap-lenh-2016-2017-319364.aspx

2. Viết Tuân. (2018, June 15). Cục trưởng An ninh mạng: Không có việc theo dõi tài khoản mạng xã hội. Vnexpress.net; VnExpress. https://vnexpress.net/cuc-truong-an-ninh-mang-khong-co-viec-theo-doi-tai-khoan-mang-xa-hoi-3764144.html

3. Xuân Ân. (2017, June 17). Lấy ý kiến sớm hoàn thiện dự thảo Luật An ninh mạng. Báo Điện Tử Tiền Phong; Báo điện tử Tiền Phong. https://tienphong.vn/lay-y-kien-som-hoan-thien-du-thao-luat-an-ninh-mang-post958547.tpo

4. Luật An ninh mạng: “Địa phương hóa” dữ liệu là không thực tế. (2018, May 28). VOV.VN. https://vov.vn/cong-nghe/luat-an-ninh-mang-dia-phuong-hoa-du-lieu-la-khong-thuc-te-767671.vov

5. Dự án Luật An ninh mạng: Nhiều khái niệm thiếu cụ thể, không rõ ràng. (2018, May 30). VOV.VN. https://vov.vn/cong-nghe/du-an-luat-an-ninh-mang-nhieu-khai-niem-thieu-cu-the-khong-ro-rang-768532.vov

6. https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews. (2018, June 8). HRW: “Hãy phủ quyết dự Luật An ninh mạng” - BBC News Tiếng Việt. BBC News Tiếng Việt; BBC News Tiếng Việt. https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/vietnam-44410774

7. Người Việt. (2018, June 8). Hàng ngàn người Việt Nam ký tên phản đối “Luật An Ninh Mạng.” Nguoi Viet Online. https://www.nguoi-viet.com/viet-nam/hang-ngan-nguoi-viet-nam-ky-ten-phan-doi-luat-ninh-mang/

8. vnmission. (2018, June 8). Tuyên bố của Đại sứ quán Hoa Kỳ tại Việt Nam. Đại Sứ Quán và Tổng Lãnh Sự Quán Hoa Kỳ Tại Việt Nam. https://vn.usembassy.gov/vi/pr08062018/

9. https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews. (2018, June 12). Ứng xử với Internet như với tự do báo chí. BBC News Tiếng Việt; BBC News Tiếng Việt. https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/vietnam-44449357

10. Công an đàn áp biểu tình phản đối luật Đặc khu và An ninh mạng. (2018). Radio Free Asia. https://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/news/vietnamnews/thousands-take-to-street-protesting-china-and-cyber-security-law-06102018070147.html

11. Dự luật An ninh mạng không cản trở VN thực hiện các cam kết quốc tế. (2018, June 10). VOV.VN. https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/quoc-hoi/du-luat-an-ninh-mang-khong-can-tro-vn-thuc-hien-cac-cam-ket-quoc-te-772677.vov

12. DDOS against luatkhoa.org and thevietnamese.org – Qurium Media Foundation. (2018). Qurium.org. https://www.qurium.org/alerts/ddos-against-luatkhoa-org-and-thevietnamese-org/

13. Bảo Hà. (2018, June 12). Quốc hội thông qua Luật An ninh mạng với hơn 86% đại biểu tán thành. Vnexpress.net; VnExpress. https://vnexpress.net/quoc-hoi-thong-qua-luat-an-ninh-mang-voi-hon-86-dai-bieu-tan-thanh-3762314.html

14. Sign the Petition. (2018). Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/ki%E1%BA%BFn-ngh%E1%BB%8B-ch%E1%BB%A7-t%E1%BB%8Bch-n%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Bc-kh%C3%B4ng-k%C3%BD-l%E1%BB%87nh-c%C3%B4ng-b%E1%BB%91-lu%E1%BA%ADt-an-ninh-m%E1%BA%A1ng

15. https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews. (2018, June 12). Ứng xử với Internet như với tự do báo chí. BBC News Tiếng Việt; BBC News Tiếng Việt. https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/vietnam-44449357

16. RSF calls for repeal of Vietnam’s new cybersecurity law. (2018, June 14). Rsf.org. https://rsf.org/en/rsf-calls-repeal-vietnam-s-new-cybersecurity-law

17. Viết Tuân. (2018, June 15). Cục trưởng An ninh mạng: Không có việc theo dõi tài khoản mạng xã hội. Vnexpress.net; VnExpress. https://vnexpress.net/cuc-truong-an-ninh-mang-khong-co-viec-theo-doi-tai-khoan-mang-xa-hoi-3764144.html

18. thuvienphapluat.vn. (2018). Lệnh công bố Luật An ninh mạng 2018. Thuvienphapluat.vn. https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Cong-nghe-thong-tin/Lenh-cong-bo-Luat-An-ninh-mang-2018-388593.aspx

19. Sign the Petition. (2018). Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/%C4%91%E1%BB%81-ngh%E1%BB%8B-facebook-tr%E1%BA%A3-l%E1%BB%9Di-v%E1%BB%81-lu%E1%BA%ADt-an-ninh-m%E1%BA%A1ng-vi%E1%BB%87t-nam-b99e5c13-b003-4b65-ac71-ffa7ecb601a0

20. https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews. (2018, July 9). Giáo xứ miền Trung phản đối luật An ninh mạng - BBC News Tiếng Việt. BBC News Tiếng Việt; BBC News Tiếng Việt. https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/vietnam-44764970

21. Sign the Petition. (2018). Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/ki%E1%BA%BFn-ngh%E1%BB%8B-qu%E1%BB%91c-h%E1%BB%99i-ho%C3%A3n-thi-h%C3%A0nh-lu%E1%BA%ADt-an-ninh-m%E1%BA%A1ng-%C4%91%E1%BB%83-s%E1%BB%ADa-%C4%91%E1%BB%95i-ee43d4b0-ed98-464f-824f-0f2ee997f973

22. Bổ nhiệm Cục trưởng An ninh mạng và phòng, chống tội phạm sử dụng CNC. (2018, August 14). VOV.VN. https://vov.vn/nhan-su/bo-nhiem-cuc-truong-an-ninh-mang-va-phong-chong-toi-pham-su-dung-cnc-800233.vov

23. Trịnh Hữu Long. (2018, September 14). Cuối cùng, Facebook cũng nói về Việt Nam | Luật Khoa tạp chí. Luật Khoa Tạp Chí; Luật Khoa tạp chí. https://www.luatkhoa.com/2018/09/cuoi-cung-facebook-cung-noi-ve-viet-nam/

24. News, N. (2018). Watch Live: Social Media Executives Testify At House Hearing | NBC News [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ31ugWyH8g&t=3761s

25. Bộ Công an. (2023). Bộ Công an họp Ban soạn thảo, Tổ biên tập xây dựng các văn bản hướng dẫn thi hành Luật An ninh mạng. Bocongan.gov.vn. https://mps.gov.vn/

26. Bộ Công an. (2023). Dự thảo Nghị định quy định chi tiết một số điều của Luật An ninh mạng. Bocongan.gov.vn. http://mps.gov.vn/

27. Reed, J. (2018, December 13). Google and Facebook push back on Vietnam’s sweeping cyber law. @FinancialTimes; Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/2c1e4640-fe78-11e8-aebf-99e208d3e521

28. GẶP GỠ VỚI CHÍNH PHỦ VIỆT NAM VỀ LUẬT... - European Union in Vietnam. (2016). Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/EUandVietnam/posts/2075962812446868

29. See [13]

30. tin, T. (2022). Nghị định số 53/2022/NĐ-CP của Chính phủ: Quy định chi tiết một số điều của Luật An ninh mạng. Chinhphu.vn. https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=206381

31. Bảo vệ an ninh mạng vì lợi ích quốc gia và cộng đồng. (2016). Nhandan.vn. https://special.nhandan.vn/baove_anninhmang/index.html#group-section-VAI-TRO-CUA-HE-THONG-PHAP-LUAT-mwtuSWTmLu

32. thuvienphapluat.vn. (2023). Nghị định 13/2023/NĐ-CP bảo vệ dữ liệu cá nhân mới nhất. Thuvienphapluat.vn. https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Cong-nghe-thong-tin/Nghi-dinh-13-2023-ND-CP-bao-ve-du-lieu-ca-nhan-465185.aspx

33. Lê Hiệp. (2023, May 8). Tất cả chủ tài khoản mạng xã hội Facebook, TikTok… sẽ phải xác thực danh tính. Thanhnien.vn; https://thanhnien.vn. https://thanhnien.vn/tat-ca-chu-tai-khoan-mang-xa-hoi-facebook-tiktok-se-phai-xac-thuc-danh-tinh-185230508154407045.htm

34. Tan, R. (2023, June 19). Facebook helped bring free speech to Vietnam. Now it’s helping stifle it. Washington Post; The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/19/facebook-meta-vietnam-government-censorship/

35. Lấy ý kiến Nhân dân về Dự thảo Nghị định thay thế Nghị định số 72/2013/NĐ-CP về quản lý, cung cấp, sử dụng dịch vụ Internet và thông tin trên mạng. (2013). Abei.gov.vn. https://abei.gov.vn/gop-y-du-thao-vbqppl/lay-y-kien-nhan-dan-ve-du-thao-nghi-dinh-thay-the-nghi-dinh-so-722013nd-cp-ve-quan-ly-cung-cap-su-dung-dich-vu-internet-va-thong-tin-tren-mang/10811

36. Nam Anh. (2023, July 17). Có thể tạm khóa hoặc khóa vĩnh viễn tài khoản mạng xã hội, trang cộng đồng, nhóm cộng đồng, kênh nội dung ... Nhịp Sống Kinh Tế Việt Nam & Thế Giới. https://vneconomy.vn/co-the-tam-khoa-hoac-khoa-vinh-vien-tai-khoan-mang-xa-hoi-trang-cong-dong-nhom-cong-dong-kenh-noi-dung-vi-pham.htm

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