Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) deputies had mixedviews on the need of issuing a law on cyber security while scrutinising thedraft law on November 23.

A report on the draft cyber security lawsubmitted by the Government reads that the law is to ensure cyber security inprotecting natural security and social order and safety, preventing cybersecurity threats, and addressing shortcomings in cyber security protection. Italso aims to institutionalise the Party’s guidelines and policies on cybersecurity in a full and timely manner, while being in line with the 2013Constitution’s regulations on human rights and citizens’ basic rights.

Verifying the draft, the NA’s Committee forDefence and Security Affairs backed the promulgation of the cyber security lawso as to protect national security and show Vietnam’s responsibility for cooperationin solving incidents using cyberspace to terrorize and damage security andpeace in the world.

Some lawmakers also voiced their support for thelaw, saying that cyber security is now a global concern that strongly andcomprehensively affects social aspects. Many countries have issued laws andpolicies on developing information technology and improving the capacity ofpreventing and countering cyber-attacks.

They noted that in Vietnam, hostile forces andcriminals have used cyberspace to seek profit or sabotage, violate or threatento violate national defence and security, social order and safety, and propertyof the State, agencies, organiations and individuals, especially when ITinfrastructure and policies are still asynchronous and there remain manyloopholes in management.

Agreeing on the need for the law issuance,deputy Trieu Tuan Hai of Lang Son province said Vietnam is among the countriessuffering from the biggest number of cyber-attacks. Existing regulations oncyber information safety are not deterrent enough to prevent violationscommitted on cyberspace.

Echoing the view, deputy Nguyen Huu Cau of NgheAn province said the scope of the draft law is different from that of theexisting Law on Cyber Information Safety. He analysed that the Law on CyberInformation Safety aims to protect the intactness, security and usability ofinformation. Meanwhile, the draft law on cyber security focuses on preventingharmful information infringing national security, social order and safety, andrights and legitimate interests of individuals and organisations on cyberspace.

However, Nguyen Lan Hieu, a lawmakerrepresenting An Giang province, said many cyber security protection measuresregulated in the draft are similar to those in the Law on Cyber InformationSafety. He asked the parliament to amend existing laws, including the CivilCode, the Penal Code and the Law on Access to Information, to stop fake news.Careful consideration is necessary before the cyber security law is issued.

Sharing the same view, deputy Nguyen Thi KimThuy of Da Nang city said the drafting board’s reasons for promulgating the laware unpersuasive. The protection of cyber information was already stipulated inthe Law on Cyber Information Safety, she noted, adding that if a particular lawon cyber security is issued, other fields like aviation and food security alsoneed respective laws.

The ongoing fourth session of the 14th NA is thefirst time the draft law on cyber security has been put underconsideration.-VNA