From December 25, only verified accounts can post and comment on social networks.

On November 9, 2024, the Prime Minister signed and promulgated Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP on the management, provision and use of Internet services and online information. The Decree applies to domestic organizations and individuals, foreign organizations and individuals directly involved in or related to the management, provision and use of Internet services and online information and takes effect from December 25, 2024.

Here are some new regulations in Decree 147:

Regulations to strengthen information monitoring and prevent and remove illegal information online:

- Regulations on restricting anonymous users to scam, spread fake news and other illegal acts: Social network users must provide basic personal information: Full name, date of birth, mobile phone number in VN/ID (if there is no phone number); Social networks must authenticate users via registered phone numbers or personal identification numbers; Only authenticated social network accounts are allowed to provide information (write articles, comment, livestream) and share information on social networks; Social network accounts that livestream for commercial purposes (sell goods, generate revenue) must be authenticated with personal identification numbers.

- Regulations on child protection on social networks: Only users over 16 years old can create social network accounts for use; In case children (under 16 years old) want to use social networks, they must have permission and supervision from their parents or legal guardians; Classify and warn about content that is not suitable for children; Implement measures to protect children according to regulations on child protection.

- Regulations on sanctions: More specific regulations on cases of 3-month suspension of operations/revocation of licenses/suspension of operations: General electronic information sites in general violate content twice; Do not ensure operating conditions according to regulations; Do not block and remove website/social network content as requested by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Public Security.

On the management of cross-border supply activities into Vietnam

- Websites providing cross-border content in Vietnam are responsible for complying with Vietnamese law.

- Foreign electronic information sites (TTĐT) providing cross-border services (hosted in Vietnam or with 100,000 or more visits) must carry out procedures to notify contact information to the Ministry of Information and Communications and comply with the following additional responsibilities:

Supplement regulations on blocking and removing content and services that violate national security within 24 hours, promptly blocking and removing content and services that violate national security; temporarily or permanently blocking accounts, pages, groups, and social media channels that frequently violate; Verify and identify user accounts by phone number or personal identification number (if there is no mobile phone number), ensure that only verified accounts are allowed to post information (write articles, comment, livestream) and share information on social networks, and provide information about violating users to state management agencies upon request; owners of pages, channels, and social media groups are responsible for managing the content posted and commented on in the group page; social networks are responsible for granting authentication (blue tick) to accounts, pages, and channels of agencies, organizations, businesses, and influential people in Vietnam...; check, monitor, and remove information, services, and applications that violate legal regulations.

Implement child protection solutions: Do not allow children (under 16 years old) to create social network accounts, must have permission from parents or guardians to use; classify and warn of content that is not suitable for children; Social networks must negotiate with press agencies when citing content on social networks; Provide search tools as required by the Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Public Security; publicize content distribution algorithms to users...

The above regulations and responsibilities will apply equally to domestic and foreign business organizations.

For the provision of online electronic game services:

- Adjust and reduce unnecessary conditions and procedures and reduce the time for appraisal, licensing and issuance of licenses to provide online electronic game services;

- Decentralize to the Department of Information and Communications to issue Certificates of providing G2, G3, G4 online game services and Certificates of releasing G2, G3, G4 online games.

- Add a regulation not to grant licenses for simulation games like in casinos, games using card images to limit negative impacts on players.

- Require player authentication with mobile phone number in Vietnam, ensuring only authenticated accounts can participate in the game.

- Regulations on protecting children when playing games: When registering to play games for players under 16 years old, their parents or guardians under civil law must register an account using the information of their parents or guardians under civil law and are responsible for monitoring and managing the playing time and game content of players under 16 years old; Game businesses, server rental businesses, server hosting businesses, telecommunications businesses, and Internet businesses must coordinate to deploy solutions to protect children in the online environment according to the provisions of law on protecting children and people under 18 years old; Players under 18 years old can only play 01 game for no more than 60 minutes and the total playing time in a day must not exceed 180 minutes.

- Supplementing regulations on preventing pirated games and XBG games: Labeling licensed games; XBG application stores must block and take down unlabeled games; complying with Vietnamese payment laws; Foreign organizations and individuals providing online electronic game services to users in Vietnam, including providing cross-border services, must establish enterprises in accordance with Vietnamese law.

- Supplementing regulations on management and issuance of game cards: Only use game cards to allow players to deposit money into legal online electronic games of that enterprise itself or of other enterprises in an economic corporation, group of companies, parent company, or subsidiary of that enterprise; do not use game cards to deposit money into unauthorized online electronic games or for other purposes.