Vũ Thạch (SBTN) * Translated by VNCH-Ngoc Truong (Danlambao) - In the past few days, the state-run papers in Vietnam have officially announced the intention to ban Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Viber,.... Everyone knows that this is just a stereotype of Beijing flavor, the world has been abhorrent for many years about installing the Great Firewall on the internet to block users in China.
Vietnam now forces useful and impartial softwares like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc. to be replaced by Chinese products such as: Renren, Youku Tudou, Weibo, etc. The end-users will be monitored entirely for his/her activities on the internet.
Some think that this is just a distraction to the public from big events , from the concession to Beijing regarding the dispute islands by the visit of diplomats Hoang Binh Quan - Wang Yi, to the upcoming APEC meeting or the arrests of democracy activists.
Very much likely these comments are correct. But suppose, the threat of banning Facebook, Youtube... is the exact intention of the government of Vietnam, when the implementation is in force, serious impacts should be addressed.
- Most of internet users like to learn from information, news not controlled or re-written with perspective of government propaganda systems. Users want to find the historical facts, to know the progress of humanity. Eventually users will give up and diconnect since there is no longer benefit.
- Mass of users will leave the internet, they would not switch to Chinese software, they know that SAFETY is unsafe. Not only are civilians, but party members, cadres monitored as well. The secret police would have access and interfere to all users’ activities and privacy.
- On top of that, Beijing security officials monitor and access to all Vietnames regardless, private citizens of government officials, communist party members, including Vietnamese police. Another word, if we Vietnamese keep accessing the internet through Chinese software, we enslave ourselves to China.
- Hanoi will surely be disgusted same as Beijing in international relations, from the whole world to individual. In particular, most tourists will stay away from Vietnam as they do to China.
- In addition, foreign businesses will alienate Vietnam if there are options to invest in other countries. They know that contacts with Vietnamese partners are under the radar of the government, business information will be interfered of intervened. They can only protect their side of communication but not from the side of Vietnamese partner.
So what should we do when the law is in effect?
- Inform and circulate immediately this news worldwide, targets are international media. Economic losses will force the Vietnamese communist leaders to reconsider their foolishness.
- IT related people should learn how to overcome the firewall, barriers, especially moving to VPN (Virtual Private Network) software. Free service is available from some providers, some charge for a fee based on the data used, pricing is reasonable and affordable. Private Tunnel, ExpressVPN… are popular names.
- To the general internet users, let’s urge each other to terminate contract, stop buying smart phones, simple old style cell phone is sufficient. State own telecommunication company and “red capitalists” run phone companies would be in danger of losing profit and collapse in the long run: Viettel, FPT, VNPT. Only that will drive the government to back off.
Users should not be the victim and/or play quiet sheeps. Strong reaction leads to by pass barriers and sanctionize the communist regime in econmically terms.
Lately, drivers in Vietnam reacted to BOT rip off fee was a fantastic lesson to learn.
It is now our chance to do it
2017.11.05
