Vietnam routinely jails its critics and closely monitors activists on social media, which is not banned unlike in neighboring China. A top Vietnamese general this week said a 10,000-strong brigade dubbed “Force 47” has been tasked with fighting “wrongful views” spreading on the internet, according to state media reports. It was not immediately clear what Force 47 is responsible for, but observers anticipate the cyber soldiers will escalate smear campaigns against activists online. Force 47 is likely to include commentators hired to publish pro-government material and counter critics, said Madeline Earp, senior research analyst with Freedom House. “Vietnam very much follows China’s example when suppressing internet freedom, particularly when it comes to blocking websites and arresting dissidents,” she told Agence France-Presse.

Source: Manila Times December 29, 2017 08:48 UTC