In the context of World Safer Internet Day, the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications (MIC), Nguyen Huy Dung, highlighted the crucial role of a safe Internet in advancing progress in Vietnam. This year’s World Safer Internet Day was themed, “Want to talk about it? Making space for safe conversations about life online”.
According to MIC, over 175,000 children worldwide access the Internet daily and experience both its advantages and potential hazards. Providing children with knowledge about Internet safety and equipping them with the tools to protect themselves has become a global concern.
World Safer Internet Day aims to promote the safe use of digital technology and create positive effects on children and young people. It strives to encourage the youth, parents, teachers, police, and technology companies to work together to develop and implement initiatives that contribute to a safer online environment.
World Safer Internet Day was initiated in 1999. By 2004, many countries had joined the initiative to raise public awareness of cyber threats. The day aims to promote joining hands to fight threats from the internet, bringing people around the globe a safer online environment.
Last year, the Vietnam Network for Child Online Protection debuted its website to keep children safe online, where users can report incidents of child abuse. The Authority of Information Security, which is run by MIC, developed and deployed the website. The network is linked to 24 units, including representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Other representatives are from agencies, enterprises, and domestic and foreign organisations that specialise in child protection on the Internet.
As OpenGov Asia reported, in the ‘Opinion Expression’ section of the website users, including children, can give their ideas and suggestions, which state agencies can consider when drafting new policies and schemes. The ‘News’ section includes updated information about Internet safety for children in the country and across the world as well as the new technologies developed to keep children safe online. Meanwhile, the ‘Tools’ section offers useful suggestions and software for young users to have healthy interactions online.
Apart from contacting the Child Affairs Department’s hotline through the portal, users can also send child abuse reports. The Vietnam Network for Child Online Protection then verifies the reports and takes appropriate action. The website was launched as part of a programme approved by the Prime Minister to protect and assist children in healthy and creative interactions on the Internet. It targets preventing and handling activities that take advantage of the cyber environment to abuse children as well as promoting and maintaining a healthy Internet environment.
The website contributes to an ecosystem of useful domestic apps and products to help children learn and be entertained online. So far, the programme has introduced various initiatives, tasks, and breakthrough solutions to exploit advanced technologies like big data to collect data and deliver early warnings for any potential content that violates laws or is not suitable for children.
In 2022, Vietnam’s digital technology industry reached a total revenue of about US$ 148 billion. The revenue from Internet security products and services in 2022 hit about VND 4.85 trillion (US$ 205.5 million), 26% higher than that of 2021. Domestic information security enterprises have mastered over 95% of information security products and solutions. Many new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and virtual reality technology (AR/VR) have been applied to ‘Made in Vietnam’ information security products.