Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Vietnam to repeal its new cybersecurity law, asserting that it infringes upon freedoms of speech and expression. The new regulation, known as Decree 147, is scheduled to come into effect on December 25, 2024, and is expected to introduce more stringent controls over internet usage and free speech than the existing Cybersecurity Law of 2018.
The 2018 law already limits online criticism against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and includes prohibitions against “distortion of the history of revolutionary achievements” and other activities. Decree 147 takes this a step further by compelling Vietnamese citizens to provide their phone or ID card numbers when accessing overseas social media platforms, a move seen as a way to unmask dissidents. Furthermore, it mandates internet providers to actively remove content deemed illegal within 24 hours, impacting platforms facilitating information sharing.
HRW argues that these measures are a misuse of national security objectives to stifle political dissent. Patricia Gossman, HRW’s Associate Asia Director, stated that the decrees contradict the principles of human rights, providing authorities with additional tools to silence opposition. The group has also pointed out the irony in Vietnam hosting an upcoming UN ceremony for the Convention Against Cybercrime while implementing such restrictive measures.
This call for action comes amid continuing criticism of Vietnam’s increased crackdown on journalists and activists, as evidenced by several recent sentences handed down to human rights activists for distributing content deemed anti-state. These actions further underscore the dissent from Vietnam’s decision to tighten its grip on digital freedoms.
The international community is urged to note these developments, especially in light of commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirms the need for free and uncensored media as essential to any society.
For further details, including the broader implications of this development, the full text can be accessed here.