Draft Decree amending regulations on management of public and online electronic games
Quick Look
The draft Decree amending Decree 147/2024 proposes to restrict children under 16 years old from playing games at online game shops from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., limit playing time to less than 60 minutes/day, require account authentication via Vietnamese phone number and place servers in Vietnam to increase protection for children from harmful content.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Current regulations only apply generally to Internet agents from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. without grouping by age, while the new draft proposes discrimination by age and increased control of content and play time for children.
Public electronic game service locations are not expected to welcome guests under 16 years old between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. the next morning.
This is a proposal stated in the draft Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 147/2024 on management and provision of Internet services and online information, which is being evaluated by the Ministry of Justice.
The proposals focus on strengthening child protection through controlling the time and content of video games.
Regarding time, the drafting agency proposed that points providing public electronic game services (online game shops) should not serve child players (under 16 years old) between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. the next morning.
For players 16 years of age and older, the shop is not allowed to provide services between 24 hours and 8 a.m. the next morning.
Current regulations currently only generally stipulate that Internet agents "must not operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning", without grouping by age.
According to the draft, the commune level will directly appraise the dossiers, physically inspect and issue, amend, supplement, extend and revoke the operating licenses of these locations.
Game companies must take measures to limit children's playing time to less than 60 minutes/day
The drafting agency assessed that children are accessing online platforms earlier and earlier, but lack of effective management and supervision from families causes harmful content to negatively impact children.
Therefore, in parallel with the management of online game shops, the draft establishes many responsibilities for businesses providing online video game services.
For children under 16 years old, game publishers are required to implement technical solutions to ensure that the total playing time per day does not exceed 60 minutes for all games provided by the business.
This proposal is much stricter and stricter than the current regulations, which only set a maximum limit of 180 minutes a day, generally applicable to players under 18 years old.
Demo accounts (not verified via mobile phone number) are only allowed to operate for a maximum of 7 days from creation and cannot be topped up in any form to buy virtual items, virtual units or reward points.
After this deadline, if the user does not register and authenticate an account with a mobile phone number in Vietnam, the business must stop access to that account.
The draft also proposes that businesses providing game services must have at least one server system located in Vietnam to manage payments and store player data in Vietnam to serve inspection and examination work.
The decree is expected to be issued in November.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The decree will be issued in November this year.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What are the specific sanctions for violations?
- How will inspection and supervision of implementation of regulations at game shops be carried out?
- What technical solutions can game publishers apply to achieve the 60 minutes/day limit?
