For a clean and pure Internet environment

On the occasion of the World Day for Peace and Security on the Internet (December 12, 2015), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung wrote an article “For a pure and clean Internet environment”. Below is the full text of the Prime Minister’s article:

The Internet is a great invention of mankind. Thanks to the Internet, the world has made great strides, achieved extraordinary achievements in almost all areas of life, bringing the world beyond the level of industrial civilization into a new era - the era of globalization and knowledge-based economic development.

On November 19, 1997, Vietnam officially connected to the global Internet.

Over the past two decades, Vietnam has consistently and persistently pursued a policy of creating favorable conditions for the development of the Internet. By the end of 2014, Vietnam had nearly 45 million Internet users, accounting for over 49% of the population, higher than the world average (40.4%) and much higher than the average of the Asia-Pacific region (32.4%).

Our development goal in the coming time is to increase the rate of Internet users to 80-90% of the population, equal to that of developed countries today. The Internet is open to all people. All organizations and individuals have the right to use the Internet. The Government pays special attention to supporting students and people in rural areas, mountainous areas, border areas, islands... to use the Internet through many programs and projects. Vietnam opens up, creating favorable conditions for domestic and foreign information technology and Internet companies to do business and develop. Names such as Vietnamnet, Vnexpress, Dantri, Zingme, Google, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Viber... have become familiar to Internet users in Vietnam.

As a huge storehouse of knowledge and a globally connected environment, the Internet has increased educational opportunities for all citizens, business enterprises and people-to-people exchanges around the world. However, besides the conveniences that the Internet brings, the risks and negative impacts from the Internet are present and very diverse.

The situation of intellectual property rights violations, technology theft, intellectual property, and copyright on the Internet is increasing. The risk of cyber espionage has become complicated and dangerous. Attacks that paralyze or take control of websites are very serious. We also see the obvious risk of using the Internet environment to spread fabricated information, unverified information, information of unreliable origin, toxic and offensive information to slander and defame individuals, organizations, and brands; to spread ideology, to organize terrorist and destructive activities. Unfortunately, this information is often read, shared and spread, causing negative effects and consequences in society.

I believe that the Internet is not only a technological environment, a business environment or a connection environment, but also a very important cultural and educational environment, influencing the formation of personality and contributing to shaping human culture in the future. This is also an important condition to enhance openness and transparency, contributing to ensuring democracy - freedom, human rights, and civil rights in a progressive rule of law state - all power belongs to the people. Therefore, building a cultured and humane Internet environment is what we must strive for together.

I call on everyone to be responsible citizens when using social networks in particular and the Internet in general. Please provide information, images, and data consciously and responsibly and share information, images, and data with high consciousness and responsibility. "Netizens" should fight together for justice, fairness, and noble values ​​to establish, maintain, and develop a civilized Internet environment in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government welcomes the Global Day for Internet Peace and Security with the theme For a Pure and Clean Internet Environment and highly appreciates the initiative to build a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards on the Internet initiated by politicians and professors of the Boston Global Forum.

While the world continues to search for technical solutions and build international laws on Internet security, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards on the Internet is essential. We - all Vietnamese people, let's join hands with people around the world to build a Pure and Clean Internet environment. Do not transmit or disseminate harmful information, unverified information, information without reliable sources; do not use vulgar language that trivializes people in articles, pictures, or comments and exchanges online. Information technology experts need to improve their responsibility, not assist cyber criminals, not spread viruses, not participate in information attacks and terrorism on the Internet... We not only promote responsibility and do well domestically, but also need to participate in mobilizing friends around the world via Internet connection to respond to this event.

The Vietnamese Government affirms to protect citizens, organizations, companies, and brands of Vietnam and foreign enterprises investing and doing business in Vietnam on the Internet. We will continue to build and perfect the legal system and rules on Internet activities; at the same time, we are ready to participate in the formation of an international legal system on Internet security, and use resources to participate in international online rescue when necessary. From our own practice, Vietnam will actively contribute to the completion and application of the Code of Conduct and ethical standards on the Internet.

The Internet is becoming a driving force for development but the Internet still needs and must become a Pure and Clean environment.

NGUYEN TAN DUNG

Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(Source: Government.vn)