BANGKOK, Thailand (2 June 2025) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is concerned over the Vietnamese Government’s decision to block public access to online messaging platform Telegram.
On 23 May 2025, the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority—operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology—issued the directive to block Telegram in Vietnam effective on 2 June 2025.
The decision came after a document from the Ministry of Public Security’s Department of Cyber Security and Hi-tech Crime Prevention, which claimed that 68 percent of the 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam breached laws related to fraud, drug trafficking, terrorism, and the dissemination of anti-government materials.
According to a ministry official, Telegram failed to monitor content, remove or block illegal information, and share user data with authorities during criminal investigations.
FORUM-ASIA urges Vietnamese authorities to immediately end its censorship of online content and suppression of access to messaging and social media platforms. Such actions violate people’s rights to privacy, free speech, and access to information.
“Although social media platforms once enabled freedom of expression in Vietnam, the government now treats online communications as a threat. Tech companies, through compliance or silence, have become complicit in this growing censorship,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
Digital repression
In 2018, the Vietnamese Government enacted the Cybersecurity Law, which criminalizes online criticism of opposition against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, “distorting the history of revolutionary achievements,” “undermining national solidarity,” and “blasphemy.” among other offenses.
In December 2024, the government introduced Decree 147/2024/ND-CP (replacing Decree 72/2013/ND-CP), further tightening state control over social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok. The decree mandates user identity verification through phone numbers or national IDs, which must be provided to authorities upon request.
Traditional media remains under the strict control of Vietnam’s one-party government. Independent journalists and bloggers often face severe repression.
Globally, Vietnam continues to rank among the lowest in terms of press freedom. Individuals who openly express dissent or criticisms against the government—especially through online platforms—may be subjected to constant surveillance, harassment, arbitrary detention, and imprisonment under broadly defined national security laws.
Numerous human rights defenders, journalists, and ordinary citizens have been sentenced under Article 117 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, which criminalizes “making, storing, or spreading information, materials, or items for the purpose of opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.”
In December 2024, Vietnam officially announced its candidacy for re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term. However, Vietnam’s actions contradict the Council’s highest standards of human rights protection.
On 7 to 8 July 2025, the UN Human Rights Committee will conduct its fourth periodic review of Vietnam’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in accordance with Article 40 of the Covenant, which requires State parties to regularly report to the Committee on how they are implementing the rights in the Covenant. This review offers a critical opportunity for the international community to scrutinize Vietnam’s human rights practices.
Role of tech companies
Vietnamese authorities have previously pressured platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to cooperate in censoring content critical of the government.
In 2020, Mark Zuckerberg reportedly chose to comply with Vietnam’s demands to suppress anti-state content on Facebook at the risk of losing around USD 1 billion in annual revenue from the country.
In November 2024, Vietnamese state media reported that approximately 380 YouTube videos, 364 Facebook posts, and 33 TikTok links were removed or blocked–upon the government’s request–within a month for allegedly containing “false and negative” information targeting the state, government leaders, and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Call to action
“Technology companies must stop enabling authoritarian regimes that aim to suppress freedom of expression and put its citizens under online surveillance. These companies should resist government pressure to censor political expression and silence dissent,” said Bacalso.
FORUM-ASIA reminds the Vietnamese Government of its obligation to uphold people’s freedom of expression—without fear of reprisals—which includes the right to express political opinions and share ideas both online and offline..
Vague and overly broad laws—such as Article 117 of the Penal Code—must be amended or repealed as they are incompatible with Vietnam’s obligations under tICCPR, to which the country is a State Party.
**
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 90 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu. www.forum-asia.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
- Communications and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA, communication@forum-asia.org
The post [Statement] VIETNAM: Government must uphold freedom of expression, cease social media censorship first appeared on FORUM-ASIA.
This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.