Brian Jeffrey
On November 9, the government announced Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP regarding the management and usage of Internet services and online content, which will be implemented starting December 25, 2024.
A significant aspect of this decree includes changes to licensing criteria for local social media platforms.
Under the previous regulations, any company wanting to offer social networking services in Vietnam was required to secure a license. However, Decree 147 presents updated categories for domestic social networks based on traffic and user engagement.
Main Features
1. User Activity Classification
– High-Traffic Networks: Services that receive more than 10,000 monthly visits (calculated over a rolling six-month average) or have at least 1,000 regular users must apply for a service license.
– Low-Traffic Networks: Services with less than 10,000 monthly visits or fewer than 1,000 regular users only need to notify the authorities and obtain a confirmation certificate.
2. Oversight and Adherence
All social networks will be required to connect with the Ministry of Information and Communications’ monitoring system to track user interactions and access statistics.
3. Data Protection Guidelines
Local platforms are not allowed to utilize user information for marketing or distribute it to third parties without obtaining explicit consent.
4. Content Restrictions
Social networks are prohibited from creating or disseminating journalistic content like reports or interviews without authorization.
5. Handling Violations
Domestic social networks must:
– Eliminate any information or services that breach Article 8 of the Cybersecurity Law within 24 hours of detection.
– Swiftly respond to directives from the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant agencies to block or delete unlawful content, following requests communicated by phone, written notice, or electronically.
