Vietnam has introduced significant changes to the regulation of telecommunications services through Decree No. 147/2024/NĐ-CP, set to take effect on December 25, 2024. The decree marks the latest step in Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to strengthen digital identity verification and cybersecurity measures, following the country’s earlier developments in electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) systems.
Under the decree, mobile telecommunications enterprises must conduct business cooperation with content service providers based on principles of fairness and reasonableness. These enterprises are required to ensure efficient use of telecommunications resources and infrastructure while maintaining safe network operations, building upon Vietnam’s existing telecommunications framework.
The legislation mandates that mobile telecommunications enterprises implement content monitoring systems to control services provided on their networks. The monitoring includes managing registration, authentication, service cancellation, and fee collection. Companies must respond within 24 hours to requests from the Ministry of Information and Communications or the Ministry of Public Security regarding content that violates the Cybersecurity Law, strengthening the enforcement mechanisms established in previous regulations.
The decree introduces new user information requirements, mandating that telecommunications enterprises provide subscribers with detailed information about their content services, including service names, codes, and cancellation procedures. Monthly notifications about active content services must be sent to subscribers on the 25th of each month, enhancing transparency in service delivery.
For social media platforms, the decree establishes strict account verification requirements that match broader regional trends in digital identity verification. Both foreign and domestic social media service providers must authenticate user accounts using Vietnamese mobile phone numbers or personal identification numbers, following similar approaches across Southeast Asia. The requirements extend Vietnam’s existing digital identity infrastructure, which has seen significant development in recent years through initiatives like digital financial services authentication.
Commercial livestreaming activities require additional verification through personal identification numbers, reflecting growing concerns about online content regulation and digital identity verification. Social media providers must retain user data, including login times and IP addresses, for a minimum of two years and provide this information to authorities upon request, establishing a more comprehensive digital audit trail.
The implementation includes a 90-day transition period for social media platforms to achieve compliance, allowing time for technical integration and user verification processes. The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Public Security will oversee enforcement of these regulations, continuing their role in managing Vietnam’s digital ecosystem.
Sources: Lawnet.vn, Evrimagaci, UL Solutions, VILAF, Mobile ID World
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