Infrastructure "gaps"
At the seminar "Leveraging Opportunities and Minimizing Risks of Digital Technology for Population Groups in Society" held on January 12th in Hanoi, Mr. Nguyen Minh Hong - Chairman of the Vietnam Digital Communication Association (VDCA) - stated that by 2025, Vietnam will have risen to 6th place out of 40 countries in the global AI index ranking. Digital technology is not only spreading widely in daily life but also becoming a core strategy for businesses, with a higher integration rate than the regional average. It is projected that by 2030, the demand for information technology personnel focusing on AI, big data, and cybersecurity in Vietnam will reach 2 million people.
However, the relentless development of digital technology leads to many core challenges, posing obstacles that exacerbate inequality and adversely affect vulnerable worker groups.
Dr. Luong Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Director of the Center for Gender and Women's Rights Research at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics , emphasized that Vietnam is facing new challenges such as the digital divide between regions and social groups, the risk of digital inequality, risks to privacy and information security, as well as the impact of digital media on cultural and social values and human rights. This is especially true for the poor, informal workers, the elderly, people with disabilities, women, children, and ethnic minorities.
Elaborating on the challenges, Mr. Nguyen Duc Lam, Policy Advisor at the Institute for Policy and Development Studies (IPS), stated that Vietnam still has hundreds of villages that are "out-of-network zones" – where the internet remains a luxury.
In particular, the absence of languages from over 50 ethnic minority groups in the online environment leaves AI lacking data on these communities, thereby inadvertently depriving them of equitable access to knowledge.
According to Mr. Lam, for the platform workforce, ride-hailing drivers are at a disadvantage as their income and working conditions are entirely dictated by algorithms that allocate orders and commission rates. The lack of social protection makes them the most vulnerable group of workers in the digital economy .
Regarding women and children, UNESCO's 2025 assessment shows that Vietnamese women still lag behind men in both access to infrastructure and equipment, as well as in their capacity to participate in science and technology. Gender-based violence related to technology and online fraud are serious issues but are rarely discussed publicly.
Meanwhile, people with disabilities and the poor face barriers related to equipment costs, digital skills, and user-unfriendly online transaction designs, making digital public services inaccessible to those who need them most.
Proposal to apply the Pareto 80/20 principle
According to Dr. Luong Thu Hien, on the international stage, multilateral forums of the United Nations and many international organizations have emphasized that digital transformation needs to be guided by a human rights-based approach, placing people at the center, ensuring inclusiveness and leaving no one behind. Issues such as privacy rights, personal data protection, access to information, cultural rights in the digital space, as well as the impact of digital technology on employment and social welfare, are becoming central topics of discussion globally.
In this context, the Party and State of Vietnam have identified digital transformation as a strategic task to promote rapid and sustainable national development, build a socialist rule of law state, and place people at the center, as the subject, and as the goal of development.
To realize the goal of inclusive digital transformation, the speakers proposed a synchronized system of solutions encompassing technology, society, and legal policies.
Ms. Do Thanh Huyen, a public policy analyst at UNDP in Vietnam, proposed applying the Pareto 80/20 principle. This principle suggests that while promoting 80% of services online, the government must still maintain at least 20% of services in person for those who lack access to technology. Furthermore, learning from international models is essential. Digital public services should be designed with minimalism in mind, using contrasting colors (blue, black, orange) to support both visually impaired and colorblind individuals.
Building a clean data "cell" and establishing effective data governance laws must ensure four elements: "Accurate - Complete - Clean - Viable". This is the foundation for AI and algorithms to operate without bias.
Experts also called for the vigorous enforcement of recently enacted laws such as the Personal Data Protection Law and the Electronic Transactions Law, and for the early completion of the AI Law to create a transparent legal framework for algorithms.
Representing the International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr. Nguyen Hai Dat emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of workers who lose their jobs or experience job changes due to AI. Key policy implications include supporting retraining in digital skills and lifelong learning for workers in vulnerable sectors; assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in building responsible digital ecosystems; and promoting social dialogue between workers and employers at all levels of digital transformation.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Lam proposed integrating human rights values throughout the entire lifecycle of technology. Technically, tools are needed to prevent abuse and protect personal information. Socially, it is necessary to build community ethical standards and raise awareness and digital safety skills among the people.
“Technology serves humanity, not humanity serving technology. Technological development cannot be separated from the development of human values. Instead of merely supporting equipment, the higher goal must be to enhance digital capabilities and protect the safety of each citizen. Only when human values are expanded can the risks from technology be reduced.”
"Like the Bhutanese model, the happiness index is the ultimate measure of a developed nation, whether it's a digital society or any other form of society in the future," Lam emphasized.
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/giam-thieu-rui-ro-cua-cong-nghe-so-cho-nhom-yeu-the/20260112113543842
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