Vietnam has introduced new restrictions on video games and social media platforms to address digital risks

Under this law, tech companies are required to store user data locally within Vietnam and comply with government demands to remove "illegal or harmful" content within 24 hours of receiving such requests.

The decree is aimed at regulating user behavior on social networks in order to safeguard national security and social order in the digital space, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam.

Statistics show that Facebook has 65 million users in Vietnam, while YouTube has 60 million, and TikTok boasts 20 million users. The law also places limits on the amount of time children and teenagers can spend playing video games, allowing just one hour of play per session, with a daily maximum of three hours. This measure comes as a report from the platform "Newzoo" indicates that over half of Vietnam's 100 million population engages in video gaming regularly.

Additionally, the law requires all companies and organizations in Vietnam to verify users’ identities using phone numbers and national ID numbers and to store personal details such as names and birthdates. These entities must provide user data to the Ministry of Information and Communications or the Ministry of Public Security upon request.

While the decree is designed to curb excessive use of social media and video games, it has faced both domestic and international criticism, with concerns that it could be used by authorities to suppress freedom of expression and censor dissent.