One of the most noteworthy features of the draft decree, expected to replace the current Decree 72 on managing, supplying and using internet services, is the proposed regulation that mobile network operators will stop providing internet services to organizations and individuals violating the law.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), learning from its management work and violation cases, believes there should be additional measures to promptly handle individuals and organizations using internet service to post the content against the Party and the State on cyberspace, especially livestream service on social media.

One of the measures is requiring internet service providers to stop or suspend the service to subjects posting content in violation as per MIC’s requests.

Vu Ngoc Son, CTO of NCS, a cybersecurity firm, said preventing users from violating the law on cyberspace is a necessity.  

However, the methods used to prevent violations in cyberspace will be more specific, and more technological solutions will be needed, which poses challenges for management agencies, service providers (telecom carriers, social networks, OTT network…), and users as well.

Son said the watchdog agency needs to give detailed guidance to implement the solution, pointing out when and why the network operators have the right to disrupt internet connection. Prior to that, cyber identification must be completed to be sure that the correct persons are blocked.

As for telecom carriers, the implementation of the measures to prevent violators will require a high-performance technical system, which will connect or disconnect immediately when there is a request.

To deal with social media and OTT networks, in addition to management via identification, there should be a mechanism allowing state management agencies to define proof and trace violators on cyberspace when discovering violations. 

Meanwhile, users need to heighten their awareness of laws on communicating in cyperspace and strictly observe the laws.

Tran Viet Quan, CEO of Tanca, agrees that early prevention against violators on cyberspace, by any form, is a necessity. However, he called on to discuss the feasibility of the methods, because the internet network is reserved for many users, including those who don’t break the laws.

Quan said is easy to switch services between telecom carriers providing internet service, or on SIM cards with 4G-5G data. It is difficult to completely block violators.

Quan believes that sending warning information early about IPs with signs of violations through mobile network operators is also an effective measure to deter violators.

Nguyen Duy Vy, CEO of Buzi, stressed that when livestreams and toxic content appear en masse on cyberspace as currently seen, the application of sanctions, such as disconnecting internet service, is a reasonable policy.

However, the problem is how to implement the sanctions. Will telecom carriers have the right to disrupt internet transmission lines if the line is shared by many members of a family, and the other members don’t violate the law?

Vy said that if a telecom carrier disrupts service to the home, violators may use public internet service, or use services registered by relatives and friends.

Prior to that, speaking at a meeting held by VDCA (Vietnam Digital Communications Association), Vu Kiem Van, secretary general of the association, raised questions about the problems arising if the internet connection is cut.

What will violators have to do if they want to use VNeID app, or send work emails work, but their internet connection has been cut?

Van thinks that it would be better to allow them to use some essential services instead of blocking all internet connections.

Representatives of mobile network operators have stated they will observe the directions by state management agencies and legal regulations on stopping providing services or terminating contracts.

However, a problem has arisen that many agencies have sent documents to network operators, requesting to provide information and stop internet service. So, there must be a clear regulation on competence to make decisions and forms of notice and methods of implementation. 

Thai Khang