Vietnam has implemented new regulations requiring social media users to verify their accounts using mobile phone numbers or national identification numbers under Decree 147/2024/NĐ-CP, marking the latest expansion of the country’s digital identity verification requirements. The measure follows Vietnam’s broader push toward digital authentication, which included the certification of its national FaceID system for electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification.
Under the new regulations, users must authenticate their accounts using Vietnamese mobile phone numbers, with national identification numbers serving as an alternative for those without local phone numbers. Social media providers have been given 90 days to comply with these requirements, reflecting similar initiatives seen in other jurisdictions working to strengthen online identity verification.
The decree includes specific provisions for commercial livestreaming activities, requiring users to verify their accounts using personal identification numbers. Platforms must maintain user data, including login times and IP addresses, for a minimum of two years and share this information with authorities upon request. The data retention requirement matches growing global trends in digital identity management and cybersecurity oversight.
Content management teams comprising local personnel are now mandatory for social media providers. For users under 16 years of age, parents or legal guardians must register accounts using their own information to enable parental oversight of online activities. The approach to youth protection mirrors similar measures implemented in other countries, such as Utah’s social media identity verification requirements, though the latter faced legal challenges.
The legislation requires platforms to implement monitoring systems for illegal information, with telecommunications and internet service providers required to collaborate with government authorities on reporting and enforcement. The monitoring requirements build upon existing digital content oversight mechanisms while introducing new technical compliance standards for platform operators.
Human Rights Watch has called for the repeal of the decree, while activists including Dang Thi Hue and Le Anh Hung have expressed concerns about its implications for freedom of expression. The concerns reflect broader debates about balancing digital identity verification with privacy and civil liberties.
The decree took effect on December 25, 2024, following a 90-day implementation period for affected platforms and service providers. The implementation timeline places significant technical and operational demands on social media platforms operating in Vietnam, requiring substantial modifications to their existing user verification systems.
Sources: Evrimagaci, Slashdot, Evrimagaci, Voice of America
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