Social media users in Vietnam will soon be required to undergo identity verification, a move the government says is to crack down on online fraud.
The move aims to stop people from using anonymous accounts to break the law.
Unverified accounts on domestic and international social media platforms such as Facebook will have to comply with new regulations.
It is unclear how the new measures, expected by the end of 2023, will be implemented.
Authorities will monitor and potentially block anonymous accounts, state media reported.
This is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on social media users in Vietnam.
Last year, social media platforms were required to remove news deemed fake within 24 hours, rather than 48 hours as previously required.
A law was also passed in 2022 that would require tech companies like Google and Facebook to store user data locally.
Human Rights Watch said this would give governments “greater ability to pressure companies and likely lead to violations of rights of expression, association, and privacy.”
The latest regulations are part of the next bill to reform the Telecommunications Act, which must be passed by lawmakers and are expected to come into force by the end of 2023. Details have not yet been disclosed.
Currently, not all providers in Vietnam offer identity verification.
However, individuals and organizations must follow the new rules.
Deputy Information Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam told the state-run Voice of Vietnam broadcaster that authorities can identify owners of social media accounts that violate the law, but cannot track them because they use cross-border applications. he said.
Experts say that while the rise in disinformation and hate speech is a legitimate concern for Southeast Asian governments, governments including Vietnam are using vague definitions to tighten control over digital spaces. .
A study by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute found that “weaponization of fake news strengthens the regime’s control over information, undermining a healthy information environment.”
In the 2023 World Press Freedom Ranking, Vietnam was ranked 178th out of 180, slightly ahead of North Korea and China.