Social media platforms complicit in Vietnam's censorship of dissidents

 

Khmer Circle: 

Meanwhile the Hanoi regime employs thousands of professional trolls - 'cyber soldiers' - whose job is to harass dissidents and spread disinformation online, including websites based in countries outside of Vietnam such as Laos and Cambodia.

^^^

 

 

Vietnam said that social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, have removed over 3,200 “toxic” posts on their platforms in the first quarter of 2022. The country’s information ministry, which often makes requests to companies to take down specific posts, said Facebook removed 525 posts, YouTube removed 2,679 videos, and TikTok 71 clips following government requests. 

 

Unlike China, which maintains its own social media platforms, Vietnam has largely allowed sites like Facebook and Google to operate in the country, but has placed strict conditions on their censorship of content per government guidelines. The companies have received criticism from lawmakers and activists alike, who argue that they are complicit in Vietnam’s censorship of dissidents. 

 

In 2019, Vietnam passed a new cybersecurity law that tightened restrictions further on social media expression, and critics have raised concerns about the law potentially giving authorities the power to force companies to provide user data.

 

RFA