Vietnam deploys cyber warfare troop of 10,000
Vietnam has unveiled a new, 10,000-strong military cyber warfare unit to counter “wrong” views on the Internet, media reported, amid a widening crackdown on critics of the one-party state.
So-called Force 47 has worked pro-actively against what it defines as “distorted information,” Tuoi Tre newspaper reported, citing Nguyen Trong Nghia, deputy head of the general politics department under the Vietnam People’s Military. The disclosure of the unit comes as the Communist government pressures YouTube and Facebook to remove videos and accounts seen damaging the reputations of leaders or promoting anti-party views.
“In every hour, minute and second we must be ready to fight proactively against the wrong views,” the paper quoted Nghia as saying.
Facebook this year removed 159 accounts at Vietnam’s request, while YouTube took down 4,500 videos, or 90 per cent of what the government requested, according to VietnamNet news, which cited Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan last week. The National Assembly is debating a cybersecurity bill that would require technology companies to store certain data on servers in the country.
Nghia made the remarks at a conference on “propaganda activities” attended by Communist party officials.
“The Central Military Commission is very interested in building up a standing force to counter the wrong viewpoints,” he said, referring to the party’s branch in the military. He added that the military would work with internal security and other forces in Vietnam to build a specialised cyber warfare force.
Vietnam has unveiled a new, 10,000-strong military cyber warfare unit to counter “wrong” views on the Internet, media reported, amid a widening crackdown on critics of the one-party state. So-called Force 47 has worked pro-actively against what it defines as "distorted information," Tuoi Tre newspaper reported, citing Nguyen Trong Nghia, deputy head of the general politics department under the Vietnam People’s Military. The disclosure of the unit comes as the Communist government pressures YouTube and Facebook to remove videos and accounts seen damaging the reputations of leaders or promoting anti-party views. “In every hour, minute and second we must be...
Vietnam has unveiled a new, 10,000-strong military cyber warfare unit to counter “wrong” views on the Internet, media reported, amid a widening crackdown on critics of the one-party state.
So-called Force 47 has worked pro-actively against what it defines as “distorted information,” Tuoi Tre newspaper reported, citing Nguyen Trong Nghia, deputy head of the general politics department under the Vietnam People’s Military. The disclosure of the unit comes as the Communist government pressures YouTube and Facebook to remove videos and accounts seen damaging the reputations of leaders or promoting anti-party views.
“In every hour, minute and second we must be ready to fight proactively against the wrong views,” the paper quoted Nghia as saying.
Facebook this year removed 159 accounts at Vietnam’s request, while YouTube took down 4,500 videos, or 90 per cent of what the government requested, according to VietnamNet news, which cited Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan last week. The National Assembly is debating a cybersecurity bill that would require technology companies to store certain data on servers in the country.
Nghia made the remarks at a conference on “propaganda activities” attended by Communist party officials.
“The Central Military Commission is very interested in building up a standing force to counter the wrong viewpoints,” he said, referring to the party’s branch in the military. He added that the military would work with internal security and other forces in Vietnam to build a specialised cyber warfare force.
