The number of Internet users in Vietnam is higher than the average level in Asia but, despite this reality, the US House of Representatives has passed resolution H.RES.672 on freedom of the Internet in Vietnam.

A Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reporter has interviewed the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Do Quy Doan on the issue.

Reporter: The US House of Representatives on October 21 passed resolution H.RES.672, saying that the establishment of the Department for Management of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information in Vietnam has limited freedom on the Internet and censored personal blogs in Vietnam. What is your opinion?

Mr Doan: The establishment of State management agencies is the right of each country in line with the requirements, functions and tasks with which agencies and units are entrusted by the State and Government. The establishment aims to build mechanisms and create the best possible conditions for national development. However, that development must be put within the legal framework.

It (the US House of Representatives) claims that the establishment of the Department for Management of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information is aimed at limiting freedom on the Internet or censoring blogs, I think this is a gross distortion of the truth. In fact, every country has its own agency for broadcasting and television management, including the US. In my opinion, the only explanation for this is simple: either a misunderstanding or intentional misinterpretation.

Reporter:  In resolution H.RES.672, the US House of Representatives said that the Department for Management of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information in Vietnam requests Internet service providers to provide them with information about Internet users who have violated regulations set by the Ministry of Information and Communications. What is your assessment of this information?

Mr. Doan: I don’t understand on what basis they have to say this. The Department for Management of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information is a counselor to assist the Ministry of Information and Communications in management in the field of broadcasting, television and electronic information. There is no way in which the Department has violated regulations set by the Ministry.

It should be seen that in the process of management, appropriate authorities always try to encourage the positive. All countries over the world see the two sides of using the internet. I think it’s necessary to encourage a service provider to cooperate with appropriate authorities to prevent harmful information.

Reporter: As a manager in the field of broadcasting, television, how do you assess the development of Internet services in Vietnam?

Mr. Doan: It has been 12 years since Vietnam accessed the internet for the first time on November 19, 1997. During this time, with the assistance of the State, the internet in Vietnam has developed quickly-the number of people using the internet in the country has now risen to 22 million, one-fourth of its population. The figure shows how widely the internet has spread in Vietnam. If it had kept under strict control, Vietnam wouldn’t have seen such a rapid speed of development.

Not long ago, during my visit to the US, I went to see one of my friends working at the Voice of America’s foreign relations department who had just come back from Vietnam. He said he was also told that there was a limit on the freedom to use the internet in Vietnam. However, he saw internet services everywhere in the country. Even at 12pm-1am, internet cafes were still busy.

Therefore, it cannot be said that Vietnam limits the use of the internet. If that were the case, there would not have been such an internet boom.

Reporter: Thank you very much.