Vietnam Proposes Law to Block Unauthorized Online Films
Stricter Mandates Target Online Streaming Platforms
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism submitted a legislative package to the National Assembly on October 20, 2026, proposing that telecommunications companies be legally mandated to immediately block unauthorized internet film distribution upon official request. reported that the sweeping amendments target online streaming platforms and network operators to tighten compliance across seven key sectors.
Lâm Thị Phương Thanh presented the draft amendments to the legislature, focusing heavily on establishing stricter controls over digital content providers. Under the revised framework, online film distributors must instantly remove restricted materials that violate prohibitions against state opposition, historical distortion, violence, hatred, obscenity, and child abuse. Operators are also required to update content ratings and age warnings immediately whenever authorities issue written requests.
Network Providers Must Block Illegal Films
Telecommunications enterprises possessing network infrastructure face explicit new responsibilities under the legislation. Companies must establish dedicated communication channels and contact points to receive reports and complaints from both the public and regulatory bodies. Once an official request arrives from competent authorities, providers must enforce access blocks on illegal films without delay.
To enforce compliance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to deploy specialized personnel and technical equipment to monitor digital film content and age classification practices. The ministry will coordinate enforcement actions directly with the Ministry of Public Security and other related agencies.
State Agencies Alter Film Production Financing
Beyond digital censorship measures, the legislative proposals alter how state budgets finance film production. State agencies may fund productions through commissioned tasks, specific project assignments, or public bidding processes. The proposals introduce mechanisms allowing private capital to invest in politically mandated films via partial state financial support.
Bureaucratic Shifts in Heritage and Tourism
The legislative package addresses heritage preservation and tourism administration by streamlining bureaucratic procedures and shifting administrative authority. The Culture Ministry retains prior approval authority exclusively for national special relics and world heritage sites, while provincial-level culture departments assume responsibility for locally designated relic groups. In the tourism sector, provincial-level tourism agencies gain the authority to designate local tourist sites, shifting the power away from provincial people’s committees. Meanwhile, the authority to designate national tourist sites transfers from the prime minister to the culture minister.
Legislature Schedules Formal Debates
The National Assembly Committee for Culture and Social Affairs expressed general agreement with the objectives of the draft legislation while cautioning that administrative simplification must not dilute professional verification standards or weaken heritage conservation safeguards. The Vietnamese legislature scheduled formal debates on the draft law for November 10, 2026, with plans to review and vote on the package during the ongoing session.