Vietnam has set ambitious goals for artificial intelligence development, aiming to become a leader in AI technology within Southeast Asia by 2030. In March 2021, the government released its National Strategy on R&D and Application of Artificial Intelligence, outlining plans for investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.
The strategy commits to creating a legal framework for AI that protects privacy and human rights while avoiding technology abuse. It assigns the Ministry of Public Security a key role in developing regulations on privacy protection and security related to AI. The government also pledges to apply AI to improve public services and advance national defense capabilities.
However, Vietnam lacks a comprehensive data protection law, though some protections exist in the constitution and other regulations. A draft Personal Data Protection Decree is in development but not yet enacted. The country's cybersecurity law, which took effect in 2022, includes data localisation requirements that have raised concerns about government access to data.
While the AI strategy mentions developing legal protections for privacy and human rights, there are no specific commitments to algorithmic transparency. Vietnam's smart city initiatives aim to improve urban services but may also expand surveillance capabilities. The government has used various laws to acquire citizens' data and conduct surveillance, particularly of activists and dissidents.
Vietnam has not explicitly endorsed the OECD AI Principles, though some elements of its strategy align with OECD recommendations. The country did endorse UNESCO's AI ethics recommendations in 2021, but there is little evidence of implementation so far.
International human rights organisations have raised significant concerns about Vietnam's record. Freedom House rates the country as "Not Free," citing tight restrictions on expression, religious freedom, and civil society. There are particular worries about the government's use of technology for surveillance and censorship.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/