In late summer 2009, a purported order by Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security to block access to Facebook and other external websites began to circulate on the internet. This leaked document, dated August 27, 2009, was addressed to ten local internet service providers. While the Hanoi government has never confirmed issuing this decree, in November 2009 internet users in Vietnam began reporting widespread Facebook outages. Several local ISP acknowledged privately that they were pressured by government authorities to suspend Facebook access.
Attached is the apparent Ministry of Public Security order and English translation.
No. 693/CV/KTNVI (P7)
Re: Blocking websites with bad contents
Hanoi, 27 August 2009
To:
In order to meet security needs and fight propaganda activities against the Party and the Government over the Internet, the Technical Bureau I – General Security Department – Ministry of Public Security would like to instruct your companies to apply technical measures to thoroughly block these additional Websites:
1. http://apps.facebook.com
2. http://www/facebook.com
3. http://www.ddcvn.info
4. http://www.phapnanbatnha.net
5. http://www.viettalk24.com
6. http://www.caotraonhanban.com
7. http://www.cuunuoc.org
8. http://www.vungguomtritue.com
We are very much looking forward to your close cooperation.