June 21, 2018

Senator Ngo Calls on Giant Tech Companies and the CPTPP Members to Oppose Vietnam’s New Cybersecurity Law

Letter to PM Trudeau_2018-06-19

June 21, 2018, Press release

Today, Canadian Senator Thanh Hai Ngo issued the following statement regarding Vietnam’s controversial new cybersecurity law.

“On June 12, 2018, the Vietnamese National Assembly approved a highly restrictive cybersecurity law that would require giant tech companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Apple, and Samsung to share the personal data of users in Vietnam.

“When this deeply repressive law comes into effect in January 2019, the single-ruling Vietnamese Communist Party will have another harsh weapon to censor expression as ‘illegal’ each time bloggers and political activists criticize the government online. It will allow the communist authorities to intensify their ongoing crackdown on dissent by further limiting freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of opinion and other political rights.

“The provisions of this cybersecurity law are clearly designed to target and prosecute as ‘threats to national stability’ peaceful dissidents such as Nguyen Trung Ton, Truong Minh Duc, Pham Van Troi, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Hoang Duc Binh, Tran Hoang Phuc, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh (also known as Mother Mushroom), Tran Thi Nga, Bui Van Trung and Ho Van Hai.

“Vietnam’s intrusive role in cyberspace is a clear violation of international legal standards and defies its international trade commitment as a signatory of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

“I called upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a letter dated June 19, 2018, to confront Vietnam’s illegal measure and clear human rights violation.

“I have also called on the Government of Canada to take a clear position on Vietnam’s repressive cybersecurity law during Question Period in the Senate on June 19, 2018, and to protect online freedom.

“I encourage everyone to sign the online petition by the Alliance for Democracy in Vietnam calling on the CPTPP member countries and tech giants to protect online freedom and freedom of expression in Vietnam.”

Quote

“Without a free internet, there is no safe place left in Vietnam for people to speak freely.”

– The Honourable Senator Thanh Hai Ngo

Additional information

– Petition to protect online freedom and freedom of expression in Vietnam

– Senator Ngo’s question to the Government, Senate Question Period, Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 1st Session, 42nd Parliament, Volume 150, Issue 223.

– Senator Ngo’s letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, June 19, 2018

News articles on Vietnam’s cybersecurity law

Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen and John Boudreau, “Vietnam parliament passes cyber law denounced in street protests,” The Sydney Morning Herald, June 13, 2018.

Prashanth Parameswaran, “What’s Next For Vietnam’s New Cyber Law?” The Diplomat, June 12, 2018.

Mai Nguyen, “Vietnam lawmakers approve cyber law, tighten rules on Google, Facebook,” Reuters, June 12, 2018.

“Vietnam Parliament passes cyber law denounced in street protests,” Bloomberg, June 12, 2018.