Vietnam ranks 7^th in the world in number of Facebook users and has more than 55 million social network users, who account for 57% of Vietnam’s population. Social networks have become an important source of information for Vietnamese people.

With many integrated functions like chat, emails, video clips, livestreaming, file sharing, and blogs, social networks enable the users to share information easily. Cyberspace has opened an attractive world to users. In addition to positive information that promotes development, many individuals and organizations have abused freedom of speech to deliver false, biased, toxic, and morally and culturally inappropriate information. Distortions and biased information on social networks have threatened national security and social order.

In order to build code of ethics for social networks and promote positive behavior among users to build a safe, healthy cyber environment and promote human rights in Vietnam, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued the Code of Conduct on Social Networks targeting individual and organizational users, state employees, and social network suppliers.

The Code of Conduct requires users to abide by the guidelines of social network providers. Users are advised to use their real name and register with the social network suppliers to certify their name, website address, and contact point. Organizations and individuals are required to self-manage and secure their account, and promptly inform functional agencies and suppliers when their accounts are stolen, faked, or abused to sabotage national security and social order or to harm their legitimate rights and interests.

The Code looks to develop ethical standards for behavior on social networks, educate and develop good habits in social network users, and contribute to building a healthy and safe online environment.

It encourages organizations and individuals to share information from official and reliable sources, and behave in ways that match the traditional moral and cultural values of Vietnam. Words that feed hatred or provoke violence or discrimination against any region, gender, or religion must be avoided, and content that violates the law, insults others, or harms the legitimate rights and interests of any organization or individual are not allowed to be used. The Code of Conduct also prohibits false information or illegal commercials that may cause chaos in society or disrupt social law and order. The Code of Conduct encourages social network users to optimize the networks to promote Vietnam’s land, people and culture, and educate and protect children and teenagers in the online world.

Do Quy Vu, Deputy Director of the  National Institute of Information and Communications Strategy under the Ministry of Information and Communications (Photo:qdnd.vn)

The Code of Conduct on Social Networks only offers recommendations, but individuals and organizations committing violations will be punished according to the law, said Do Quy Vu, Deputy Director of the  National Institute of Information and Communications Strategy under the Ministry of Information and Communications. Punishments for violations on social networks have already been prescribed in Vietnamese law, said Vu.

Before the Code of Conduct was issued, the National Assembly adopted the Law on Cyber Security which took effect on January 1, 2019. The law ensures social order and safety in cyberspace and stipulates the responsibilities of concerned agencies, organizations, and individuals. The issuance of the Code of Conduct on Social Networks is important to improve conduct in cyberspace and promote democracy and human rights in Vietnam. Nguyen Quang Dong, Director of the Institute for Policy Studies, said the Code of Conduct on Social Networks should be considered a prerequisite for improving conduct in the cyber environment in Vietnam.