Vietnam says Facebook violated cybersecurity law
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Vietnam says Facebook has violated its new cybersecurity law by allowing users to post anti-government comments on the platform. “Facebook had reportedly not responded to a request to remove fanpages provoking activities against the state,” the official said, citing the Ministry of Information and Communication. In a statement, a Facebook spokeswoman said: “We have a clear process for governments to report illegal content to us, and we review all these requests against our terms of service and local law.”
She did not elaborate. The ministry said Facebook also allowed personal accounts to upload posts containing “slanderous” content, anti-government sentiment and defamation of individuals and organizations, the agency added.
“This content had been found to seriously violate Vietnam’s Law on cybersecurity” and government regulations on the management, provision and use of internet services, it quoted the ministry as saying.
Facebook had refused to provide information on “fraudulent accounts” to Vietnamese security agencies, the agency said in Wednesday’s report.
The information ministry is also considering taxing Facebook for advertising revenue from the platform.
The report cited a market research company as saying $235 million was spent on advertising on Facebook in Vietnam in 2018, but that Facebook was ignoring its tax obligations there.
In November, Vietnam said it wanted half of social media users on domestic social networks by 2020 and plans to prevent “toxic information” on Facebook and Google.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is Facebook's stance on removing content that Vietnam considers illegal?
What is Facebook's stance on removing content that Vietnam considers illegal?
Facebook stated it has a clear process for governments to report illegal content. It reviews all such requests against its own terms of service and local law, but did not elaborate further on this specific situation.
Q.What specific actions by Facebook led Vietnam to claim violations of its cybersecurity law?
What specific actions by Facebook led Vietnam to claim violations of its cybersecurity law?
Vietnam claims Facebook did not respond to requests to remove fanpages provoking anti-state activities and allowed personal accounts to post 'slanderous' and anti-government content. It also refused to provide information on 'fraudulent accounts'.
Q.What other issues does Vietnam have with Facebook, besides content moderation?
What other issues does Vietnam have with Facebook, besides content moderation?
Vietnam is also considering taxing Facebook for advertising revenue generated in the country. The ministry believes Facebook is ignoring its tax obligations, citing $235 million spent on advertising there in 2018.