New decree aims to curb online misconduct

Vietnam’s booming online business landscape faces significant challenges, including impersonation, the spread of harmful information, misleading advertising, online scams, and e-commerce fraud.

To address such issues, the Vietnamese Government recently enacted Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP, effective from December 25, 2024, and replacing Decrees No. 72/2013/ND-CP and 27/2018/ND-CP, to strengthen the management of internet services and online information.

A key highlight of the new decree is stricter regulations on handling violations committed by cross-border service providers like Facebook, Google, and Netflix, among others, operating in Vietnam.

Significantly, Decree No. 147 stipulates that foreign organizations, businesses, and individuals providing services in Vietnam must remove illegal content, services, or applications within a maximum of 24 hours of receiving a request from the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Public Security, or other competent authorities via written document or electronic means.

The decree also outlines the handling of violating accounts, community pages, groups, and content channels. Accounts or pages with at least five violations within 30 days or ten violations within 90 days will be temporarily suspended for seven to 30 days, depending on the severity and frequency of the violations.

Accounts, pages, or channels posting content that threatens national security or that have been temporarily suspended three or more times will be permanently blocked. These blocking measures will only be lifted after the violations have been addressed according to authorities’ requirements.

Decree No. 147 also clarifies the responsibilities of internet users and service providers. Users must verify their identities and are accountable for the content they post. Accounts violating community standards or local laws will have their content removed or be suspended, with permanent bans for serious violations. Platforms are responsible for screening content, protecting user information, preventing data leaks, and ensuring customer safety and benefits.

According to cross-border service providers in Vietnam, the decree clarifies the rights and obligations of all parties involved, contributing to a safer, more dynamic, and positive digital environment.