Hanoi (VNA) – The Law on Cyber Security is animportant, much needed legal framework for authorised forces to be able to tacklerisks and challenges from cyber space in a timely and effective manner, accordingto the Ministry of Public Security’s Cyber Security Department (CSD).

The law, which was adopted during the fifth session of the14th National Assembly and announced by the President on June 28, iscomprised of seven chapters and 43 articles, and will become effective fromJanuary 1, 2019.

The department reported that Vietnam has faced dozens of serious,large-scale cyber attacks over the past few years, directly threatening nationalsecurity, social order and safety, and seriously affecting the local economy.

The latest statistics from the department show that in thefirst six months of the year, 2,769 websites and online portals with nationaldomains – 35 of which are managed by Party and State agencies – were eitherhacked, had their interfaces or content altered, or were deprived of administrationauthority.

What is more, the Internet and some digital services andapplications have also been used by hostile forces to spread calls for illegalprotests and gatherings that may incite rioting or violate nationalsovereignty, interests, and security.

Meanwhile, the dependence on foreign-origin technologydevices has led to an urgent need to form a cyber security industry.

CSD Director Hoang Phuoc Thuan said that the Law on CyberSecurity clarifies cyber security ensures that activities on the Internet donot harm national security, social order and safety, as well as the legitimaterights and interests of organisations and individuals.

This is a new issue, demonstrating the National Assembly’s standpointon protecting the legitimate rights and interests of organisations andindividuals in line with national security, said Thuan.

Regarding concerns related to the granting of sub-licencesto telecommunications and Internet-based companies, Thuan said that the issueswere carefully considered alongside consultations with the business communityduring the building of the law.

“There are no obstacles and there will be none of thesub-licences as rumoured,” stated Thuan.

Luu Binh Nhuong, standing member of the National Assembly’s Committeeon Social Affairs, said that concerns about limited freedom of speech once thelaw is adopted are baseless as the issue is not regulated in the Law on CyberSecurity, but the Civil Code.

The law only controls issues related to cyber security anddoes not prohibit freedom of speech, said he.

“Translating the Law on Cyber Security as prohibitingfreedom of speech is a misunderstanding and it should not be referred to inthat way,” stressed Nhuong, adding that the law only targets cyber criminals.

The law only focuses on preventing and combating high-tech andcyber criminals, and matters related to security, and social order and safetyare regulated in other laws, he concluded. -VNA