Vietnam: National Competition Commission announced investigation into Zalo regarding data protection implications of service agreement

On 31 December 2025, the National Competition Commission announced an investigation into messaging service Zalo regarding the data protection implications of its new service agreement. The Commission sent a letter to the company VNG, which operates Zalo, requesting that it review and adjust the terms of its new service agreement to ensure that users are not made to consent to personal data processing as a condition of use, as well as ensuring that consumer consent to data collection is voluntary, clear, and substantive. Further, the Commission asked VNG to review its general service agreement terms to ensure compliance with consumer rights legislation, and to temporarily cease transferring to third parties the personal data of consumers who have accepted the terms of the service agreement.