Google ‘studying steps’ to open headquarters in Vietnam in accordance with cybersecurity laws
- Vietnam’s new law has provoked objections from tech companies, rights groups and Western governments, including the United States
- This year, Vietnam, which has been drafting a code of conduct for the internet, asked Facebook to open a local office
Google is studying steps towards opening a representative office in Vietnam, the government of the Southeast Asian nation said on its website, citing Google’s Senior Vice-President Kent Walker.
Despite economic reforms and increasing openness to social change, Vietnam’s Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate dissent.
The news comes as a controversial cybersecurity law is set to take effect next month, requiring global technology firms to open local offices and store data in the country.
“Google is studying steps to open a representative office in Vietnam,” the website quoted Kent as saying on Tuesday, and adding that Google would abide by laws of the host nation, while ensuring it does not contradict international laws.
Vietnam appreciated an opinion Google contributed to a draft decree on guidelines to implement the law and ensure cyber safety and security, the website added.
“We remain very excited to see how technology is being used by businesses and people in Vietnam. There are a number of different factors we look at before opening an office, but we have nothing to announce at this time,” a Google spokesman wrote in a statement on Wednesday.