The Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05) under the Ministry of Public Security has received documentation from the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department regarding the necessity to restrict the operation of Telegram in Vietnam.
According to reports, the law enforcement agencies indicate that violations related to the use of Telegram account for illegal activities account for up to 68% of channels, groups involved in a total of 9,600 channels. Many Telegram groups in Vietnam are allegedly involved in promoting illegal materials, spreading misinformation, and engaging in various illicit activities such as fraud and drug trafficking.
The Department of Cybersecurity has instructed compliance according to Decree No. 147 issued in 2024 by the government on management, provision, and use of Internet services and information on the network. Telegram must provide cross-border information to users in Vietnam and comply with Vietnamese laws, including informing relevant authorities, monitoring, and blocking information that violates laws.
In cases where organizations, enterprises, or individuals from abroad provide cross-border information that violates Vietnamese laws, they must cooperate with competent authorities in handling violations. Vietnamese authorities will implement technical measures to “prevent behaviors that misuse the Internet causing negative impacts on national security, social order, and violate the law.” They will also apply protective measures to safeguard minors from negative influences of the Internet.
The Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention is advocating that Telegram take serious actions to restrict its operations in Vietnam.
The document outlines specific behaviors that violate national security and social order which are strictly prohibited under Article 9 of the Law on Cybersecurity, particularly where the enterprise in question has a duty to implement measures to prevent violations (as stated in Clause 2, Article 13 of the Law on Cybersecurity).
Furthermore, starting from January 1, 2025, enterprises providing internet services must comply with the notification requirements regarding the provision of these services.
However, Telegram has not complied with these regulations. Providing internet services without permission is considered a serious violation under Clause 4, Article 9 of the Law on Cybersecurity. Regarding violations of Article 9 of the Law on Cybersecurity, the enterprise is responsible for implementing solutions to prevent violations.
Therefore, the Department of Cybersecurity strongly urges enterprises to strictly adhere to the provisions outlined in Decree No. 163 issued in 2024 by the government, which details a number of articles and enforcement measures of the Law on Cybersecurity, and to implement solutions to restrict Telegram’s operations in Vietnam.
