Vietnam: Law on Digital Technology Industry including the prohibition of goods and services enters into force

On 1 January 2026, the Digital Technology Industry Law enters into force. The law prohibits specific uses of AI, including systems that manipulate behaviour without users’ awareness, exploit vulnerabilities, or classify individuals based on inferred characteristics in ways that cause substantial harm. It also bans AI systems that indiscriminately create facial recognition databases, infer emotions in workplaces and educational settings (except for medical or safety purposes), or classify individuals using biometric data to deduce sensitive information. More broadly, the law prohibits activities within the digital technology industry that harm state interests, infringe upon lawful rights, damage resources, the environment, or public health, or disrupt social order. It also forbids the illicit production, handling, or dissemination of data, violations of intellectual property rights, obstruction of national defence efforts, and interference with the mobilisation of emergency resources.