The draft law on data includes 7 chapters and 65 articles regulating the building, development, processing and management of data; application of science and technology in data processing; national comprehensive database; national data center; data products and services; State management of data; and responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals related to data activities.

The legal document applies to agencies, organizations and individuals related to data activities in Vietnam.

Notably, the draft law prohibits acts of taking advantage of data processing and data management to infringe upon national interests, national security, social order and safety, public interests, legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations and individuals.

The Ministry of Public Security holds that building a centralized database is a common trend in countries around the world, and therefore the building and development of a national comprehensive database is necessary.

It says the investment, upgrade, expansion and storing of information in the national database will save a lot compared to investing in separate information storing systems. Information stored in the national comprehensive database will also be used and shared by ministries, agencies and localities.

The national data center, as soon as it is put into operation, will support the exploitation of data for socio-economic development, as well as the development of the digital economy in Vietnam.

Currently, many ministries and agencies in Vietnam do not have or have insufficient infrastructure to deploy core information technology systems to support professional tasks. Many databases collected and stored are duplicated or overlapped. In addition, there is no consensus on shared data categories, causing difficulties in connecting, sharing, and exploiting data.

Furthermore, separate data centers lack investment and synchronization in standards and technical regulations, and are not regularly inspected, maintained, and upgraded, leading to the risk of not ensuring system security and safety.

VOV