The law consists of the guidelines to implement a cybersecurity law that can be a hurdle in the country’s development and innovation

On Friday, November 2, Vietnam’s government released the cybersecurity draft decree filled with guidelines, as reported by Reuters.

It requires firms to set up offices and to store data locally in Vietnam.

This move would require companies to store information such as job titles, contact details, credit card information, biometric data, and medical records, according to the draft decree.

The concern is that the law gives easy access to customer data in a state that maintains strict control, which could expose local employees to arrest.

The security ministry has released a statement that said the cybersecurity law would protect the country from threats of tens of thousands of cyber attacks that directly cause serious economic losses and threaten security and social order.

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In doing so, the ministry assured that people’s information would not be disclosed and firms would only be asked to provide user information for investigations or law enforcement under strict procedures.

Many technology companies have expressed objections considering Vietnam’s recent economic boom and social openness, making the policy a step back from the long-awaited improvements.

With the law has been made effective, the Government of Vietnam also launched a public consultation in hopes to reach an outcome which benefits all stakeholders in Vietnam.

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The law itself follows through with the tight media censorship applied by the country’s Communist Party.

As a result, both Facebook and Google, two of the most used platforms in Vietnam, are directly affected as both don’t have local offices nor local data storage in the country.
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