Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Vietnam Seeks to Further Limit Press

An Hai

   Vietnam's journalists and social media users face a new obstacle to
   independent reporting through a government decree that imposes harsh
   penalties for sharing information deemed harmful to the country.

   Observers and rights activists see the decree, due to go into effect
   Dec. 1, as part of Hanoi's increasing efforts to tighten control over
   the news media.

   Since January, Vietnam [1]has arrested about 20 journalists, publishers
   and social media users over critical content; demanded that [2]Facebook
   agree to censor "anti-state" posts; issued a one-month publishing ban
   on the news website [3]Phu Nu Online over its investigations into
   environmental damage; and, last week, arrested prominent blogger and
   democracy activist [4]Pham Doan Trang.

References

   1. https://www.vietnamhumanrightsdefenders.net/2020/10/02/defend-the-defenders-latest-statistics-vietnam-holds-258-prisoners-of-conscience/
   2. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-facebook-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-agreed-to-censor-posts-after-vietnam-slowed-traffic-sources-idUSKCN2232JX
   3. https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/arrests-suspension-vietnam-media-signal-crackdown
   4. https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/arrests-suspension-vietnam-media-signal-crackdown

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