Announcement of the President's decree on the Law on Cybersecurity.

On the morning of June 28th,The Office of the President held a press conference to announce the President's Order on 7 laws recently passed by the National Assembly, including:National Defense Law; Competition Law; Whistleblowing Law; Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Physical Education and Sports; Law on Surveying and Mapping; Cybersecurity Law; Law amending and supplementing certain articles of 11 laws related to planning.

Regarding the Cybersecurity Law, Lieutenant General Hoang Phuoc Thuan, Director of the Cybersecurity Department (Ministry of Public Security), stated that the Law comprises 7 chapters and 43 articles. Chapter III of the Law fully stipulates preventive, combative, and remedial measures aimed at eliminating threats, detecting, and handling violations of the law.

Specifically, this includes preventing and handling information on the internet that contains content propagating against the State; inciting riots, disrupting security, disturbing public order; defamation, slander; infringing on economic management order, preventing cyber espionage; protecting state secrets, work secrets, and personal information on the internet.

The law also stipulates the prevention and handling of acts using cyberspace, information technology, and electronic means to violate laws on security and order, prevent cyberattacks; prevent cyberterrorism, cyber warfare, etc.

"This provides a solid legal framework so that people can confidently conduct business, trade, or operate in cyberspace," said Mr. Hoang Phuoc Thuan.

According to Mr. Thuan, in recent times, the data of Vietnamese users on the internet has been widely used for profit-making purposes, and even for political conspiracies or violations of the law. The State does not yet have sufficient legal framework to manage these issues.

The Director of Cybersecurity affirmed that this Law does not restrict the freedom and democratic rights of citizens; all activities of citizens, as long as they do not violate the prohibitions stipulated by law, are protected by the state.

"Currently, the drafting committee has met with the Ministry of Justice to prepare for the development of government decrees and decisions guiding the implementation of the Law," Mr. Thuan said.

Regarding the Law on Whistleblowing, according to Deputy Inspector General of the Government Nguyen Van Thanh, the Law continues to stipulate two forms of whistleblowing: by written complaint and in person, in order to clearly define responsibilities and prevent abuse leading to widespread and false accusations.

The law dedicates a chapter to protecting whistleblowers. Accordingly, those protected include the whistleblower, their spouse, biological parents, adoptive parents, biological children, and adopted children.The scope of protection includes confidential information, job position, employment, life, health, honor, property, and dignity.

Introducing the Law on National Defense, Lieutenant General Le Chiem, Deputy Minister of National Defense, stated that the Law stipulates provisions on the defense and security industry, aiming to build and develop this sector as a unified whole, inseparable from each other, and managed and operated by the state.

The law also adds a provision that the Hanoi Capital Defense Zone is an integral part of the national defense, in accordance with the specific nature and tasks of Hanoi Capital and the Law on the Capital City.

On June 12th, the Cybersecurity Law was passed by the National Assembly with 423 out of 466 attending delegates voting in favor (86.86%); 15 delegates voted against; and 28 delegates abstained.