Digital Transformation: Vietnam Needs a Dedicated Law on Personal Data Protection

On April 23 in Hanoi, the National Cyber ​​Security Association - NCA held a seminar "Comments on the draft Law on Personal Data Protection."

According to experts, in the context of Vietnam entering a period of accelerating digital transformation, the development of a specialized law on personal data protection is urgent.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh - Director of the Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05 - Ministry of Public Security), Permanent Vice Chairman of NCA emphasized that data security and personal data protection are closely linked to human security, national security and national data sovereignty; must always go hand in hand, be consistent and are inseparable requirements in the process of scientific and technological revolution, digital transformation and data industry development.

According to him, information technology is increasingly pervasive in human life, users are providing more and more information, personal data to cyberspace and to service providers, from basic information to information reflecting biometrics, psychology, thoughts and actions. The popularity of personal data in cyberspace is directly proportional to the consequences that occur when personal data is not protected appropriately and properly.

Meanwhile, awareness of personal data protection is limited; much biometric information, personal history, relationships, health status, and finances are publicly posted, becoming data sources for automated information collection programs.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh - Director of the Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05 - Ministry of Public Security), Permanent Vice Chairman of the NCA. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

The situation of personal information being leaked, stolen, and traded on cyberspace also occurs frequently. More and more entities are collecting, analyzing, and processing personal data for various purposes without notifying customers or allowing violations of personal data protection to occur.

“Many new services on cyberspace have emerged, collecting, exploiting, and analyzing information and personal data, but there is no mechanism to manage user data, raising many issues related to national security, social order and safety, and infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals,” Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh emphasized.

Based on the challenges in protecting personal information, the representative of A05 said that the development and completion of the Law on Personal Data Protection is an urgent requirement to institutionalize the provisions of the Constitution and laws on the right to protect personal privacy, human rights, civil rights, and network security.

This also ensures consistency and unity in the legal system; ensures harmony with international practices and regulations on personal data protection; develops the socio-economy, creates a legal foundation for business activities related to personal data; limits and overcomes the situation of personal data being bought, sold, leaked, and lost widely, many violations of the law lack handling regulations; helps raise awareness and consciousness about personal data protection today.

According to statistics, more than 140 countries in the world have issued legal documents on personal data protection, the most recent of which are India, Thailand and Malaysia.

"Vietnam cannot delay any longer in promulgating the Law. The Ministry of Public Security urgently advises the Government to submit to the National Assembly the draft Law on Personal Data Protection for consideration and approval at the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly in May 2025," Lieutenant General Nguyen Minh Chinh emphasized.

Major Dao Duc Trieu - Deputy Secretary General, Head of the Research, Policy and Legal Advisory Department of NCA. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

Speaking at the seminar, the representative of the Drafting Committee of the Law on Personal Data Protection, Major Dao Duc Trieu - Deputy Secretary General, Head of the Research, Policy and Legal Advisory Board of NCA said that the Draft Law consists of 07 chapters, 69 articles, fully regulating the following contents: Principles of data processing, rights and obligations of data subjects and related parties, transferring data abroad, data impact assessment, data protection credit rating, handling of violations and inspection and supervision mechanisms. The Law also regulates foreign organizations and individuals that collect and process data of Vietnamese citizens.

This bill is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the May 2025 session.

"The first spirit and viewpoint in drafting the Law on Personal Data Protection is to be very receptive and listen to the opinions of all individuals and organizations. We have received hundreds of pages of comments, from in-depth, specialized, and all fields," said Mr. Trieu./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chuyen-doi-so-viet-nam-can-co-dao-luat-chuyen-biet-ve-bao-ve-du-lieu-ca-nhan-post1034497.vnp