Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang said on Monday the bill would require all data transfers outside Vietnam to be assessed and approved by relevant authorities. For personal data, transfers must comply with the regulations set out in the Personal Data Protection Act.

Under this proposal, the Prime Minister would have the power to make decisions on the transfer of basic data. The Ministry of National Defense would assess the impact of the transfer of sensitive data relating to the military and defense sectors, while the Ministry of Public Security would assess transfers of data relating to the non-military and non-defense sectors.

The assessment process would focus on identifying potential risks to national security, the public interest and the rights of individuals and organizations. The Ministry of Public Security would review the legality, purpose and extent of the data transfer, as well as the risk that the data could be falsified, destroyed, disclosed or misused. Measures to safeguard data and protect the rights of data owners would also be assessed.

Le Tan Toi, head of the Defense and National Security Committee, stressed the need for a clear legal framework to manage the growing volume of data transferred across borders. He said regulations should be designed to protect the legal rights and interests of the public.

The committee asked that the bill clearly define what types of important data should be prohibited or allowed to be transferred under certain conditions. The draft is also expected to include regulations on the storage of critical data in Vietnam and the management of transferred data. Additionally, it should clarify responsibilities for compensation in the event of data-related issues and define the authority of entities involved in data transfers.

Le Quang Huy, chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, urged the authors of the project to clarify the definition of cross-border data transfer, particularly with regard to state management and international cooperation. This clarification, he said, would facilitate the flow of data, allowing Vietnamese companies to access international markets and supply chains and expand their financial resources. This would also help combat money laundering and corruption.