Vietnam's Decree 147 Mandates Social Media User Verification from December 25, 2024; Critics Call It 'Draconian'

Dec 25, 2024, 01:14 PM

Vietnam's new internet law, Decree 147, came into effect on December 25, 2024, mandating that social media users verify their identities. This regulation requires platforms like Facebook and TikTok to provide user data to authorities, raising concerns among critics and human rights advocates about its implications for freedom of expression. The law has been described as 'draconian' and is viewed as a means to enhance state control over online content and suppress dissent. Various organizations, including Amnesty International, have called for the withdrawal and revision of the decree, arguing that it undermines the rights of individuals to express themselves online.