The Prime Minister has approved the programme “Protecting and Supporting Children in the Online Environment for 2026-2030”, which sets a target that 100% of internet service providers in Vietnam must integrate solutions to block harmful content.

The programme aims to achieve a dual objective of strengthening child protection while supporting children’s healthy and positive development, enhancing digital capacity in the context of national digital transformation and contributing to the formation of a new generation of “digital citizens” in Vietnam.

It also seeks to shift child protection in the online environment towards a proactive model focused on prevention and early intervention against risks and harm.

At the same time, the programme aims to establish a comprehensive framework for protecting children and promoting their healthy development online through the consolidation of key pillars.

These include strengthening the legal framework on cybersecurity and child protection; implementing a unified, nationwide communication and education strategy to raise awareness; deploying cybersecurity solutions to support the management of children’s online activities and ensure their safety; and expanding access to digital skills education, counselling and smart support services.

Inter-agency forces will be regularly upgraded to operate in a more modern, coordinated and effective manner. The programme also focuses on building children’s “proactive immunity” through education on online safety knowledge and skills.

During the 2026-2030 period, the programme sets specific targets, including ensuring that 100% of general education institutions deploy cybersecurity solutions and that all internet service providers in Vietnam integrate harmful content filtering solutions at the network level.

Another goal is to implement technological solutions nationwide to support digital skills education, counselling and smart assistance for children, ensuring that 100% of child victims of online abuse receive support and intervention upon request from themselves, their families or the community.

To achieve these objectives, the plan outlines 11 groups of tasks and solutions for ministries, sectors and localities to implement.

These include continuing to refine the legal framework; ensuring children’s participation and amplifying their voices and ideas; narrowing the digital divide and improving access to digital information across regions; and promoting the development and widespread adoption of cybersecurity solutions and digital skills education for children.

The programme also emphasises improving the effectiveness of state management, increasing corporate responsibility in protecting children online, and accelerating the application of information technology, digital transformation and the modernisation of information systems serving child protection.

Additional measures include promoting the creation and dissemination of healthy cultural, literary and entertainment content to nurture children’s emotional and intellectual development; strengthening the capacity of specialised forces; and preventing, detecting and strictly handling violations that harm children in the online environment.

Ngan Anh