Vietnam The media in the country are under state control and are required to follow the government’s directives. The government is also forcing social media platforms to comply with its requirements. It is common for Vietnamese dissidents to experience disruptions in their use of online services. The military’s cyber army unit, known as Force 47, is a key method used by the government to suppress criticism online and dominate political narratives. The intense crackdown on dissidents using an array of repressive laws have also expanded to target those who have fled the country. Many reported being watched by suspicious individuals believed to be state agents. Some activists were reported to have disappeared while living as a political exile only to resurface inside the country to be prosecuted. Such an incident has been documented in 2023, creating fear among other activists in a similar situation. The Vietnamese government has also been alleged to have attempted to use spyware against officials from the United States and the European Union, as well as some journalists and individuals from foreign think tanks. This follows the souring of relations between Vietnam and the United States. The attempted deployment of spyware is allegedly aimed at getting a better understanding of the intentions of 374 375 the U.S. government. Although unsuccessful, the revelation has been added to the capabilities of the Vietnamese government to act against threats to its interests. 2. Legal and Policy Developments In November 2023, the Vietnamese government announced the National Assembly’s approval of an amendment to the 2009 Telecommunications Law374. The new amendments require foreign and local social media networks to authenticate the identities of their users, as the use of pseudonyms have made it difficult for the government to combat cybercrime375. Users who refuse or fail to comply could find their accounts blocked. The law adds to Vietnam’s arsenal of restrictive legislation on the internet. In 2022, the Cybersecurity Law came into effect. It grants authorities with the power to order internet service providers to remove online anti-state content. It also required service providers to locally store personal data of their users, which can facilitate surveillance by the government. The government, however, found some provisions of the Cybersecurity Law as not clear and specific enough, leading to difficulties in enforcing the law. The Scott, Liam. “Social Media Law in Vietnam Seen as Damaging to Online Debate.” Voice of America, 25 May 2023, www.voanews.com/a/social-media-law-in-vietnam-seen-as-damaging-to-online-debate-/7109013. html. Ibid. 101