Strengthening the protection of children's privacy.

The Department of Maternal and Child Health (Ministry of Health) recently issued Official Letter No. 305/BMTE-BV dated April 25, 2025, to the Department of Press, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information regarding strengthening the protection of children's privacy.

Official document from the Department of Maternal and Child Health ( Ministry of Health )

The official document states: Recently, some online newspapers and social media accounts have published articles and clips reflecting a number of cases of violence and abuse against children. This information has contributed to supporting functional agencies and competent authorities in promptly handling acts of violence and abuse against children in particular and violations of children's rights in general.

Nevertheless, some online newspapers and social media sites, when publishing information, have violated regulations on protecting the privacy of children as stipulated in Article 21 and Clause 2 of Article 54 of the Law on Children and Article 33 of Government Decree No. 56/2017/ND-CP dated May 9, 2017, detailing some provisions of the Law on Children.

To ensure children's rights and protect their privacy, the Department of Mothers and Children requests the Department of Press, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information to direct relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals to comply with the law and take measures to handle agencies, organizations, and individuals who violate regulations on protecting children's privacy.

Article 21. Law on Children: Right to privacy : (1). Children have the inviolable right to privacy, personal secrets and family secrets for the best interests of the child. (2). Children are protected by law in terms of honor, dignity, reputation, confidentiality of correspondence, telephone calls, telegrams and other forms of private information exchange; they are protected against unlawful interference with private information.

Clause 2, Article 54 of the Law on Children. Responsibility for protecting children in the online environment: Agencies, organizations, and individuals managing and providing information and communication products and services, and organizing activities in the online environment must implement measures to ensure the safety and privacy of children in accordance with the law.

Article 33 of Government Decree No. 56/2017/ND-CP dated May 9, 2017, detailing some provisions of the Law on Children, stipulates that confidential information regarding the private life and personal secrets of children includes: name, age; personal identifying characteristics; information about health status and private life recorded in medical records; personal images; information about family members and caregivers; personal property; telephone number; personal mailing address; address and information about place of residence and hometown; address and information about school, class, academic results, and friendships of children; and information about services provided to individual children.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tang-cuong-bao-ve-bi-mat-doi-song-rieng-tu-cua-tre-em-700381.html