HCMC – Vietnam will require all social media users to verify their identities via mobile phone numbers or personal identification codes, effectively ending anonymous accounts, under Directive 57 of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Government Decree 147.
Directive 57, which focuses on strengthening cybersecurity, information security and data protection, calls for the deployment of a national digital identity and authentication system covering citizens, social media users, telecommunications subscribers and internet resources such as domain names and IP addresses. The directive also orders a crackdown on unregistered SIM cards and anonymous or fake accounts, mandatory identity verification for social media users, and age-control mechanisms to protect children online.
Earlier, the Government issued Decree 147 on the management, provision and use of internet services and online information. The decree, which takes effect on December 25, 2024, stipulates that social media accounts must be verified using a mobile phone number or a personal identification number before users are allowed to operate or post content, including articles, comments, livestreams or shared information.
The requirement applies to both domestic platforms and foreign organizations, enterprises and individuals providing cross-border information services into Vietnam, all of whom must verify active user accounts.
Experts said mandatory digital identification would facilitate the monitoring and detection of online crimes such as fraud, scams and cyberattacks, and make the spread of misinformation more difficult through improved source verification and fact-checking mechanisms.
