Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP of the government stipulating on managing, supplying, and using internet services and online information officially came into force from September 1 to create legal pathway for internet development in Vietnam. Illustrative photo. Webcam is used as online communication To offer better understanding of the decree, Binh Duong Newspaper reporter had an interview with Director of Binh Duong Provincial Department of Information and Communication, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen.Reporter: Would you please state the basic contents of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP of the government regarding the management, supply, and use of internet services and online information?Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen: Previously, Decree No. 97/2008/ND-CP dated August 28, 2008 of the government governs the management, supply, and use of internet services and online information. However, after 4 years of implementation, the decree showed drawbacks which should be remedied and supplemented to suit the reality.Fundamentally, Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP on stipulating on managing, supplying, and using internet services and online information was born to satisfy such needs. We could say that the decree was to play an important role in creating legal pathway for and promote internet development, service supply, and social networks.The Decree of 6 chapters and 46 articles detailing regulations on supplying and using internet resources; on introducing principles and legal pathway for supplying, using, and developing services of social networks, electronic information websites; on major legal regulations on establishing information sites and information services on mobile devices; on legal regulations of managing electronic games and offering and supplying effective measures to ensure network safety and security.Decree No. 72 encourages every people, supplier, and service trading on the internet; encourages supplying, seeking, and exchanging online information. Concurrently, the Decree introduces conditions for building up electronic information websites and social networks in line with the laws; facilitates cross-border information supply and collection of individuals and organizations in line with international regulations and charters that Vietnam is a member; stipulates on rights and obligations of organizations and individuals regarding information on the internet, on social networks to protect legal and righteous benefits of users.Besides, Decree No. 72 introduces legal pathway and contents on safety assurance and information security; introduces concepts of network and information safety; confirms roles and duties of State’s management agencies in safeguarding the information including Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Public Security among others; introduces legal regulations, obligations and benefits of suppliers of services and games so that every people and organizations comply to the laws.Reporter: So, what, in your opinions, are the new features of Decree No. 72 comparing to the previous one?Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen: Comparing to previous decree, Decree No. 72 contains the basic information of: Firstly, the management of online games, especially public game centers shall be enhanced in terms of licensing. Games shall be categorized for players to choose in accordance with their ages. The management shall be tighter. Secondly, management of information, especially information on foreign social networks shall be enhanced in terms of contents. Cross-border public information supply shall be governed. Rights and obligations of individuals and organizations against posting or using online information and measures to protect internet users are stipulated. Thirdly, management of information safety, national security and social order, and online crimes is enhanced by clarifying concepts of information safety and measures to ensure national security, social order, and crime prevention online. Through the perspective of Decree No. 72, responsibility of related ministries and sectors shall be determined as a foundation for determine responsibilities of Ministry of Information and Communication versus Ministry of Public Security.Reporter: Currently, personal electronic web pages are very popular. The Decree No. 72 has made some of the users worry due to the related regulations. So, how does Decree No. 72 stipulate on use of personal electronic web pages?Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen: Currently, Article 20 of Decree No. 72 introduces concepts and distinguish contents of active electronic web pages including general and personal pages.A personal page should be set up by a person or by participating a social network in a bid to supply and exchange information of that very person without representing anyone or any organization, and thus, compiled information shall not be supplied. As the matter of fact, owner of a personal electronic information page shall be allowed to share and supply their personal information only not the information compiled from other sources. Under Articles 10 and 26, rights and obligation of internet and social network users are detailed.Reporter: Some organizations and individuals have breaches internet to service their darkest purposes; however, competent authorities have interfered. In your opinion, shall Decree No. 72 mitigate this?Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen: Decree No. 72 proposes strict punishment against phishing and faking. Leaks have been exploited for dark purposes including smearing and misinforming. Thus, Decree No. 72 states the ban on “Faking organizations and individuals to scatter fake information to infringe legal rights and benefits of the organizations and individuals being faked.”It’s worry-free for the presence of Decree 72 and its regulations.Reporter: Thank you! Interviewed by Nhan Quang – Translated by Vi Bao