Tens of millions of social media accounts such as Facebook, Youtube, Tiktok ... will be deleted, locked in the new decree issued by the Hanoi government. Overseas pages will be blocked. This means that pages like BBC, RFA ... on Facebook, Youtube will not be displayed to users in Vietnam. Livestream pages selling products, Youtubers reporting news, making money from advertising on similar platforms, Tiktokers will have their accounts locked, or must verify their identity, pay taxes. Pages that the government "does not like" will be permanently deleted. According to an IT expert, this new management move by the government will force Facebook, Youtube, Tiktok to lock, delete, and block tens of millions of accounts in exchange for continuing to operate in Vietnam to make money.
CSVN: Officially from December 25, cases will have their FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE social network accounts permanently locked
According to Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP of the Government, from December 25, 2024, users will have their social network accounts permanently locked if they post the following content.
According to Point e, Clause 3, Article 23; Point b, Clause 3, Article 27 of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, the regulations on account authentication of social network service users are as follows:
- Verify the account of social network service users using a mobile phone number in Vietnam. Only in the case where the user confirms that he/she does not have a mobile phone number in Vietnam, the organization or enterprise providing social network services shall authenticate the account using a personal identification number in accordance with the provisions of law on electronic identification and authentication.
- In case the service user uses the livestream feature for commercial purposes, the organization or enterprise providing the social network service must authenticate the account using a personal identification number in accordance with the provisions of law on identification and electronic authentication.
- Ensure that only authenticated accounts are allowed to post information (write articles, comment, livestream) and share information on social networks.
In addition, Clause 7, Article 35 of the Decree stipulates cases where social network accounts and community pages will be temporarily or permanently locked. Specifically as follows:
- Temporarily lock accounts, community pages, community groups, and content channels that regularly post content that violates the law. Specifically, within 30 days, there are at least 5 times of providing content that violates the law or within 90 days, there are at least 10 times of providing content that violates the law and the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Public Security request to block and remove it.
The maximum locking time is 24 hours upon request by phone, in writing or via electronic means from the Ministry of Information and Communications (Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information), the Ministry of Public Security (Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control), the local Department of Information and Communications and competent agencies according to specialized laws or when detecting violations themselves. The temporary locking time is from 7 days to 30 days, depending on the level and number of violations.
- Permanently lock social network accounts, community pages, community groups, content channels posting content that violates national security or accounts, community pages, community groups, content channels that have been temporarily locked 3 times or more upon request by phone, in writing or via electronic means from the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Public Security, the local Department of Information and Communications and competent agencies according to specialized laws.
Thus, from December 25, 2024, when Decree 147/2024/ND-CP officially takes effect, personal social network accounts, community groups/associations or content channels on social networks may be permanently locked if they post content that violates national security or have been temporarily locked 3 times or more.
In case agencies, organizations and enterprises providing social network services do not handle content and services that violate the law, do not temporarily lock or permanently lock the activities of accounts that violate the law upon request, the Ministry of Information and Communications will suspend the provision of social network services or revoke the License/Certificate of notification of provision of social network services granted to agencies, organizations and enterprises according to the provisions of Article 33 of this Decree.
Account owners, content channel owners, community page owners, and community group administrators on social networks must not name their accounts, pages, channels, or groups similar to or identical to the names of press agencies; Do not use social networks to produce content in the form of reports, investigations, or press interviews.
