• About Us
  • Who Are We
  • Work With Us
Saturday, May 28, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Globe Post
39 °f
New York
44 ° Fri
46 ° Sat
40 ° Sun
41 ° Mon
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Vietnam’s Law on Storing Online Data in the Country Compromises Privacy

Siraj Shaikh by Siraj Shaikh
12/06/18
in Opinion
A men surfing the internet on his laptop

Photo: AFP

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Despite strong opposition from the population, online political activists, and privacy and liberty campaigners, the Vietnamese government approved a law that insists on Google and Facebook to store Vietnamese users’ data in the country. The two Internet giants have so far restrained from giving a reaction.

Opponents say the new law weakens economic growth, undermines opportunities for local businesses, and stifles political dissident further. State control of online data is critical given the nature of such data: social media and cloud service providers are a rich source of information on individual and social interaction, personal reference, behavioral patterns, and political affiliations.

Social media and cyberspace, therefore, have become the new target for state control and oppression. Undoubtedly, the power of social media tools has been demonstrated with their role clearly acknowledged in Arab uprisings. Evidently, the uptake of online platforms also rose – dramatically in some cases – through the events in the Arab world and beyond. Needless to say, once the power is unleashed there is no going back.

Storing Data Locally

In the case of Vietnam, the legislative move aims at holding at least three years’ worth of data in local offices in the country, with an explicit curb proposed on any anti-government activities or propaganda. This risks compromising on users’ privacy with the potential for coercion to uncover real identities.

More covert tactics to compromise and attack data are also a possibility in cases where the companies have stored data locally. An example is the Chinese attack on Google in 2010, when Google found a number of attacks originating from within China on Gmail accounts of human rights activists, according to Google with the aim of gathering information about the activists. This ultimately led Google to leave China.

Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden. Photo: AFP

The history of in-country data storage and operations actually goes back to developments in Europe following Edward Snowden’s revelations. In a strong reaction to the allegations of the U.S. spying on European users’ data, countries such as Germany started hosting data in-country for its citizens using cloud services. Microsoft placed data centers in Germany under the control of Deutsche Telekom – the local telecommunication service provider – to ensure that German citizens’ data never leaves the country’s jurisdiction. Remarkably so, this was aimed at protecting the citizens from surveillance and control. France is another country that is considering “digital sovereignty” by looking at more in-country cloud and technology services.

Going back to the reality of business, the driving factor for Google and Facebook is inevitably profit. With a population nearing 100 million, of which nearly 40 percent is under 25, Vietnam offers an incredible opportunity for the technology giants to sustain and grow their market. Moreover, with an increasingly vibrant economy and a steadily growing GDP in recent years, the potential for growing the local ecosystem for online trade and e-commerce is alluring.

State Control and Surveillance

The technology sector has encountered a troubled road when it comes to human rights being upheld in the face of state control and surveillance. While Google left China in 2010, the company is preparing for a relaunch in the country. This comes amidst debate and despair over Google’s plans to introduce a censored version of the search engine in China.

A Chinese flag wavers in front of a Google building.
Google launched its China-based search page in 2006, but left the country four years later. Photo: AFP

The privacy attitudes of citizens have also proven to be fickle. In the case of Microsoft’s attempt to store users’ data in Germany, this has been met with failure in uptake despite the growth of the cloud market in the country.

In emerging markets, where the politics is rigid and regulation weak, the business case for Internet giants to give in to the state’s demands remains strong.

One can argue this is good for politics too, as the Internet very often serves to be a catalyst for democracy. While both the economic and demographic factors in Vietnam are a pull for the Internet giants, they also happen to be enablers for a push towards democracy.

So, what does the future hold? One thing is for sure: the developments in Vietnam have mobilized a rigorous debate in the wider Asian region (beyond China). Events like this, while unfortunate, generate debate and attract a mix of local and international campaigners. This can have a residual and continuing effect on governments to relax their grip.

Vietnam, geographically and socioeconomically, is at an important juncture in Asia, where its ability to attract foreign investors and grow a thriving digital economy would be key to its ambition on “international economic integration in a proactive, pragmatic and politic manner.”

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Globe Post.
Share8Tweet
Siraj Shaikh

Siraj Shaikh

Professor of Systems Security at the Future Transport and Cities Research Institute at Coventry University, where he leads the Systems Security Group

Related Posts

Apple
Business

Apple, Google, Other US Tech Titans Look to Ditch Passwords

by Staff Writer
May 5, 2022
Facebook hate speech
Business

UN Slams Facebook Decision on Violent Messages

by Staff Writer
March 11, 2022
Baidu
Business

Chinese Tech Giant Baidu Tests Metaverse Waters With New App

by Staff Writer
December 27, 2021
Instagram
Business

Instagram’s Impact on Children Probed by US States

by Staff Writer
November 18, 2021
‘Very… Meta’: Twitter Cracks Up Over Facebook Name Change
Business

‘Very… Meta’: Twitter Cracks Up Over Facebook Name Change

by Staff Writer
October 29, 2021
Mark Zuckerberg
Business

Facebook Announces 10,000 EU Jobs to Build ‘Metaverse’

by Staff Writer
October 18, 2021
Next Post
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad

Syria President Announces $9 Billion Budget for 2019

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

EU Steps Up Fight Against Anti-Semitism as Hatred 'Remains Widespread'

Recommended

The Onion

‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens’

May 25, 2022
police line

Teen Gunman Kills 15 at Texas Elementary School

May 24, 2022
refugees

More Than 100 Million People Forcibly Displaced, UN Says

May 23, 2022
Volkswagen logo

German Farmer Sues Volkswagen Over CO2 Emissions

May 20, 2022
Vladimir Putin

Russia Says Economy Grew 3.5 Percent in First Quarter

May 18, 2022
Mexico missing people

Over 100,000 People Reported Missing in Mexico, Data Reveals

May 17, 2022

Opinion

A Lebanese election official stands at a polling station

New Group Threatens Lebanese Elections… and Potentially Middle East Peace

May 18, 2022
A man holding a gun

Safely Back in USA, Land of Guns and Burgers

May 2, 2022
China Muslim Uyghurs

Unfair Politicization, Corruption, and the Death of Modern Olympism

April 23, 2022
Ukraine war

The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis and the Hierarchies of Western Compassion

April 20, 2022
Chinese leader Xi Jinping

How Wrong ‘How China Can End the War in Ukraine’ Is

April 1, 2022
Ukraine children

The War for Ukraine’s Lives and Minds

March 30, 2022
Facebook Twitter

Newsletter

Do you like our reporting?
SUBSCRIBE

About Us

The Globe Post

The Globe Post is part of Globe Post Media, a U.S. digital news organization that is publishing the world's best targeted news sites.

submit oped

© 2018 The Globe Post

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • World
  • Business
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Democracy at Risk
    • Media Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Columns
    • Book Reviews
    • Stage
  • Submit Op-ed

© 2018 The Globe Post