Technology policies impacting people in 2026

The year 2026 will usher in many changes in how people access and use technology, with a series of new policies beginning to take effect.

Digital assets are no longer a gray area.

The Law on Digital Industry officially came into effect on January 1st, placing digital assets within a legal framework in Vietnam for the first time. The law defines digital assets as including virtual and encrypted assets, which are represented in the form of digital data, created, issued, stored, transferred, and authenticated using digital technology in an electronic environment, and are protected similarly to physical assets.

The Bitcoin symbol coin in front of a price chart. Photo: Khuong Nha

Some blockchain organizations estimate that approximately 21 million people in Vietnam currently own cryptocurrency. According to a report by Triple-A, over 20% of Vietnam's population owns digital currency. Vietnam is also among the top three countries in the crypto adoption index according to Chainalysis data, with a penetration rate 3-4 times higher than the global average. However, in the past, buying, selling, and transferring cryptocurrencies primarily took place on digital platforms, lacking legal mechanisms to protect against risks or disputes.

In this context, the Law on Digital Technology Industry has moved digital assets from the gray area to the realm of recognition and protection. For those who own and trade digital assets, the new policy marks a fundamental change in the legal status of a type of asset that has been prevalent in digital life for many years.

Users have the right to know they are interacting with AI.

The Law on Digital Technology Industry also for the first time establishes a legal framework for artificial intelligence in Vietnam, with the principle of putting people at the center, ensuring transparency, safety, and risk control in the development, deployment, and use of the technology.

One of the regulations that directly impacts users is the requirement for identification markings on artificial intelligence systems, as stipulated in Article 44 of the law. Accordingly, AI systems that interact directly with humans must provide notifications to inform users, unless they are clearly aware of this. Digital technology products listed in the category of digital technology products created by artificial intelligence must also have identification markings, allowing users or machines to recognize the content generated by AI.

Some AI applications generate data on mobile phones. Photo: Luu Quy

On March 1st, the Law on Artificial Intelligence will also come into effect, becoming the legal framework for the development, application, and management of AI in Vietnam. According to the Law, the State guarantees citizens the right to access, learn from, and benefit from AI. The State encourages the application of AI for social welfare, supporting vulnerable groups, bridging the digital divide, and preserving cultural identity.

The law categorizes AI system risks into three levels: high, medium, and low, clearly stipulating that users have the right to know when they are interacting with AI. Audio, visual, and video content generated by AI must be labeled to combat the increasing prevalence of fake news, scams, and deepfakes.

Distribute vouchers so people can use Vietnamese technology products.

According to Decree 268, guiding the implementation of the Law on Science , Technology and Innovation, the State will implement a mechanism of financial support vouchers for users of innovative products and services – an approach considered unprecedented in previous innovation support programs.

The policy aims to help Make in Vietnam products move from the laboratory to the market by encouraging consumers to experience new products and services.

A "Made in Vietnam" product at the Ministry of Science and Technology's exhibition, August 2025. Photo: Dinh Tung

Vouchers are issued through the National Technology Innovation Fund and the science and technology development funds of ministries, sectors, and localities. Products participating in the program must meet technical standards, have novel technological elements, features, or business models; priority is given to high-tech, strategic technologies, and those with the potential for scalability.

According to the Innovation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, vouchers are simply a "dual" financial support mechanism. Instead of the State directly allocating budget funds to the producer, buyers receive vouchers to pay for the product. The business supplying the product then returns the vouchers to the Fund to receive support. This mechanism is designed to only disburse budget funds when there is an actual transaction. This policy addresses the "chicken and egg" problem in technology commercialization, where many high-quality products struggle to reach early customers because users are hesitant to try new products due to risk.

Citizens declare their information only once when using public services.

One change expected to directly impact citizens is the one-time declaration principle when using public services. This regulation is stipulated in the Law on Digital Transformation, effective from July 1st, with a user-centric approach.

According to the principles of digital transformation stipulated in the law, the State strengthens the connection, sharing, and reuse of data among agencies and organizations. A one-time declaration is established as the default, aiming to improve management efficiency, reduce information duplication, streamline administrative procedures, and better support the decision-making process.

In his presentation to the National Assembly regarding the Law on Digital Transformation in December 2025, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung stated that the principle of one-time declaration and interconnected data will help citizens reduce paperwork and use public services more conveniently. Instead of having to provide the same information again at multiple different procedural steps, data already in the system can be reused according to regulations.

According to the Minister, prior to the law, regulations related to digital transformation were scattered across numerous documents, lacking a unified technological framework and a synchronized national governance structure. Each sector and locality could build its own system, leading to fragmentation, waste, and difficulties in data sharing. The new law addresses this situation, creating a common foundation for connecting and exploiting data nationwide.

Besides promoting data sharing, Article 5 of the Law on Digital Transformation also stipulates prohibited acts, such as collecting, using, sharing, buying, selling, or exploiting digital data in violation of the law. The law also prohibits exploiting digital transformation for fraud, manipulation, profiteering, or infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Link to original article: https://vnexpress.net/nhung-chinh-sach-cong-nghe-tac-dong-toi-nguoi-dan-nam-2026-5039525.html

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/nhung-chinh-sach-cong-nghe-tac-dong-toi-nguoi-dan-nam-2026-197260219125425961.htm