A group of US Congress members has written to Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai, the Chief Executives of Facebook and Google, urging them not to store users’ data in Vietnam, as required by the country’s restrictive new cyber security law. The law will require foreign technology companies to open offices in Vietnam, and in some cases compel internet companies to take down posts or hand over users’ data to Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security. “The cyber security law does nothing to protect internet users,” 17 members of both the Republican and Democratic parties wrote in the letter. “Rather, it is a blatant effort by the Vietnamese government to crack down on online expression by enlisting the help of leading technology companies — especially Facebook and Google.” Facebook and Google declined to comment on the letter, referring requests for comment to the Asia Internet Coalition, an industry lobby group.  

Posted by

Financial Times