The resolution has clearly stated that Viet Nam is facing serious challenges threatening national security, social order, and safety; at the same time, the digital transformation process poses an urgent need for ensuring national information security and cybersecurity in the new situation.
Resolution No.57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo has identified orientations, objectives, and requirements for ensuring cybersecurity and national sovereignty in cyberspace.
In light of the demands and tasks of the new era, ensuring cybersecurity, information security, and data security is an urgent task, contributing to creating a safe and reliable cyberspace, promoting the development of science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Directive No.57 has required strengthening the Party’s leadership; raising awareness and responsibility of the entire political system and the whole population regarding cybersecurity, information security, and data security; improving institutions and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management; focusing investment on modernising infrastructure, technology, and technical solutions to ensure cybersecurity.
Simultaneously, it has called for building a people’s security posture linked to a national defence posture in cyberspace; developing technological potential and human resources; and promoting international cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.
One issue that has attracted public attention is the implementation of a national cyberspace identification and authentication system, aiming to unify the identification of citizens, social media users, telecommunications subscribers, and internet resources.
Many opinions agreed considering this a timely and necessary step, demonstrating proactive management thinking and aligning with the country’s development requirements in the new era.
Cyberspace is becoming an inseparable part of political, economic, cultural, and social life. Every day, users connect, exchange information, express opinions, conduct transactions, forming a vast and dynamic digital society, but one that also harbours many risks.
The requirement to authenticate social media users has been set forth in the Cybersecurity Law and numerous decrees and directives.
Specifically, Government Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP dated November 9, 2024, on the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information clearly stipulates the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals when using internet resources: Registration and use in accordance with the law; responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of registered information and ensuring that it does not infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of other entities.
Decree No.147 has marked an important shift by requiring social media accounts to be verified using a registered mobile phone number or personal identification number.
However, this decree mainly focuses on managing internet services and the responsibilities of platform providers; account verification is considered a technical-administrative solution to reduce violations, and is not yet placed within a comprehensive strategy on cybersecurity, data security, and national digital sovereignty.
Directive No. 57 was issued with a broader vision, higher requirements, and a systematic approach, demonstrating a strong shift in thinking regarding cybersecurity management in Viet Nam.
Accordingly, the Directive required the development and implementation of a national cybersecurity identification and authentication system; unifying the identification of citizens, social media users, telecommunications subscribers, and internet resources such as domain names and IP addresses.
This is not merely “account verification” in the narrow sense, but a significant step towards forming a synchronised, interconnected digital identification infrastructure under the leadership of the Party and the unified management of the State.
The Directive also emphasised the thorough handling of “junk” SIM cards, “fake” accounts, and anonymous users; and simultaneously applies mandatory identity verification for social media users and age control mechanisms to protect children in cyberspace.
Directive No. 57 has showed a shift from a passive management mindset to a proactive, long-term, preventative approach. While Decree No. 147 focused on restricting violations on social media, Directive No. 57 has taken the issue to a higher level: building a safe, healthy, and orderly cyberspace where each individual is clearly aware of their responsibilities.
Not limited to technical or legal solutions, the Directive aimed to build a culture, ethics, and civic responsibility in the digital environment. Because no matter how modern technology becomes, it cannot replace the awareness and responsibility of users.
Therefore, implementing a system for identifying and authenticating cyberspace is considered a fundamental solution, linking individual responsibility to each action in the digital environment.
From a societal perspective, the implementation of Directive No. 57 is expected to have many positive impacts. First, the information environment will become more transparent and healthier. When each social media account is linked to a verified identity, creating fake accounts to spread misinformation, personal attacks, and online fraud will be more difficult.
This not only assists authorities in managing and handling violations but also creates pressure for users to self-regulate, forcing them to carefully consider each statement and action online. More importantly, identity verification contributes to enhancing personal responsibility and digital ethics.
A noteworthy point of Directive No. 57 is the requirement to control age restrictions and protect children in cyberspace. Children are particularly vulnerable to harmful, violent, and offensive content.
Identity verification linked to age-based management mechanisms will help limit children’s access to inappropriate content, while enhancing the role and responsibility of families and society in guiding digital behaviour for the younger generation. This is a necessary step towards building a safe and healthy online environment, serving the sustainable development of the country.
From a state management perspective, the national cyber identity and authentication system has created an important foundation for improving the effectiveness of investigating and handling violations of online laws. This is not intended to restrict legitimate freedom of speech, but to ensure that it is exercised within the framework of the law, linked to civic responsibility.
To implement Directive No. 57, especially the content on cyber identity and authentication, a synchronised technical infrastructure is needed, along with ensuring the highest level of data security.
This has also required close coordination between ministries, sectors, localities, and digital service providers, including cross-border platforms; continuing to improve the legal framework for protecting personal data so that citizens can be confident that their information is used for the right purposes and is not compromised or exploited.
These requirements demand strong political will, the synchronised involvement of the entire political system, and social consensus. When effectively implemented, cyberspace will no longer be a “gray area” outside the bounds of the law, and each social media user will become a responsible entity, contributing to building a civilised, safe, and humane digital society.
