Vietnam’s new cybersecurity law affects data and freedom of expression

Vietnam has approved a new cybersecurity law with implications for data, freedom of expression, privacy, and other rights. The law requires local data storage by global technology firms like Facebook and Google. Likened to similar law in China, it will also require that offending content be removed within one day of a request from authorities. c|net notes that Vietnam already has existing laws penalising anyone guilty of ‘propaganda against the state.’ The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the new law, which is set to take effect on 1 January 2019. Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s Southeast Asia representative stated that ‘Vietnam’s new cybersecurity law represents a grave danger to journalists and bloggers who work online and should be promptly repealed’. Global Voices Online stated that Vietnam’s new Cybersecurity Law could further undermine free speech and disrupt businesses,  highlighting tweets from UN Human Rights Asia.