Vietnam Archives

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

World Day Against Cyber Censorship: RSF unveils new US room in its Minecraft Uncensored Library

The Uncensored Library has added a new room dedicated to the United States and updated content in sections for Egypt, Belarus, Russia, and Iran. The USA room includes analyses of press freedom and a political cartoon by Ann Telnaes that was rejected by the Washington Post. The library allows access to journalism from countries with censorship, using the Minecraft platform for broader reach. New articles include Elahe Mohammadi's piece on Evin Prison in Iran, two articles from MadaMasr in Egypt, over 20 articles from exiled Russian media, and six articles by exiled journalists in Belarus. The library has been visited by over one million users since its launch in 2020.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Meta rolls out new scam detection across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Facebook

Meta has introduced new anti-scam tools across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Facebook, following the removal of 159 million scam ads and 10.9 million accounts linked to criminal networks last year. A feature is being tested on Facebook to flag suspicious friend or follow requests based on mutual connections, country of origin, and account age. WhatsApp is enhancing security against device linking fraud by issuing warnings for suspicious linking requests. Messenger is expanding its scam detection to more countries, flagging messages from unknown contacts that exhibit scam patterns, with an option for users to submit flagged messages for secondary review. Meta aims for 90% of its ad revenue to come from verified advertisers by 2026 and has disabled over 150,000 scam-related accounts during a joint operation with the Royal Thai Police, leading to 21 arrests. Additionally, Meta has partnered with the US Department of State for a campaign addressing trafficked workers coerced into scam operations in Southeast Asia. These measures address increasing scrutiny over scam advertising, as a Reuters investigation highlighted that Meta generated significant revenue from scam-related ads.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Russian messenger Max available in 40 countries

Russian messaging application Max is now accessible in 40 countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Cuba, Iraq, and Venezuela. Users can register with their phone numbers and utilize the app for calls and messages, regardless of their mobile operator.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

YouTube App for TVs Gets 30-Second Unskippable Ads Globally

Google has introduced longer, 30-second unskippable ads on the YouTube app for smart TVs, marking a shift in advertising strategy compared to mobile and laptop platforms. This change is part of an initiative to enhance content delivery on larger screens, utilizing Google AI to alternate between different ad formats. YouTube's growth is projected to lead to revenues reaching billions by 2025, with the living room becoming its fastest-growing venue. Viewers on smart TVs are experiencing longer engagement times, making the "Skip Ad" button less common unless they subscribe to YouTube Premium. YouTube is also exploring subscription models, including a budget-friendly “Premium Lite” tier. However, some markets, like Vietnam, have imposed restrictions on ad lengths. Despite this, YouTube remains the leading streaming platform in the U.S., and the trend towards longer ads is expected to continue.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Vietnam’s dominant messaging app faces regulatory scrutiny over data policy update

Vietnam’s National Competition Commission (NCC) has ordered VNG Corporation to revise its updated service terms for the Zalo messaging app due to user privacy concerns. The NCC emphasized that users should not be forced to consent to personal data collection as a condition for using the app and that consent mechanisms need to be voluntary and clear. The updated terms require users to accept all data management provisions or face account deletion within 45 days, which has led to significant user complaints and a decline in app ratings. Zalo's average rating on Apple’s App Store has fallen to around two out of five stars, and it has slipped to 59th place in download rankings, while international apps like WhatsApp and Viber have become more popular. Zalo has around 78 million active users and operates over 17,000 official accounts used by government and businesses. The NCC intends to meet with VNG to discuss the updated policy, as part of a wider regulatory trend against coercive data practices in digital firms globally.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Users confused by sudden terms of use update at Vietnam’s most popular messaging app Zalo

Thanh Hung, a sales employee in Ho Chi Minh City, was prompted to accept new terms of service on Zalo, a messaging platform, under the threat of account deletion. He accepted without reading the details due to urgency. Thanh Tuan from Hanoi also faced a similar situation, expressing concern over potential hidden clauses and opting to decline the new terms, risking account deletion in 45 days. Zalo, with over 80 million users, updated its terms on December 26, introducing a comprehensive user agreement and a separate agreement for its social network. Users can either accept all terms or decline specific services. The sudden notification has led to discussions among users, with some feeling pressured to agree. The update is seen as a response to the upcoming Law on Protection of Personal Data, which imposes penalties for violations. Key changes in the terms include a distinction between the messaging platform and the social network, a definition of "user content," and the introduction of Zalo ID for enhanced security. Zalo states that data collection serves its business operations.

TrendTechie

December 8, 2025

Торренты и пиратство в разных странах

Amnezia's team has received user feedback about VPN limitations for downloading torrents, attributed to legal frameworks in server-hosting countries rather than technical issues. VPN services face abuse reports from hosting providers when torrents are downloaded, leading to traffic restrictions. Specialized B2B servers, like Amnezia's Swiss P2P server, are more expensive but located in countries with lenient torrent laws. In 2024, visits to pirate sites reached 216 billion globally, with the U.S. leading at 26.7 billion visits. All major jurisdictions prohibit the distribution of copyrighted content, but penalties for piracy vary by country. - **Switzerland**: Allows personal downloading from illegal sources for personal use; uploading is prohibited. - **Netherlands**: Personal copying from illegal sources banned since 2014. - **Germany**: Intentional copyright infringement can lead to fines or imprisonment; enforcement often results in civil actions. - **France**: Increased efforts to block pirate sites; penalties include fines and potential criminal charges. - **Canada**: Notice-and-Notice model with rare fines for piracy. - **India**: Both sharing and downloading torrents are illegal; courts can issue injunctions against unknown infringers. - **United Kingdom**: Strict anti-piracy measures with civil lawsuits and potential prison sentences. - **United States**: Stringent laws with civil lawsuits for piracy; criminal cases are rare. - **Singapore**: Criminal liability for serious copyright infringement. - **Japan**: Illegal downloading can lead to prison or fines; severe penalties for sharing. - **Thailand**: Distributing pirated content is illegal; penalties vary by violation type. - **Vietnam**: Laws against piracy exist, but enforcement is rare. - **Turkey**: Prohibits downloading and sharing pirated content; enforcement focuses on commercial piracy. - **Portugal**: Prohibits downloading from copyright-violating sources; piracy levels remain high. - **Russia**: Civil lawsuits for damages are pursued, but individual users are rarely targeted. Overall, while anti-piracy laws are strict, enforcement is often lax, leading to a low likelihood of legal repercussions for torrent downloading in many regions, except in Germany and Japan.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Ahead of its ambitious sequel, you can save 65% on one of the most realistic and immersive WW2 shooters ever

Fans of first-person shooter games often have differing opinions on titles like 'Call of Duty' and 'Escape From Tarkov.' 'Hell Let Loose' is highlighted as a standout choice for those seeking intense competition and engaging gunplay. The game, set in World War II, allows players to command a squad of up to 50 players and emphasizes communication, coordination, and tactical maneuvers in its 50v50 battles. It features various maps across European theaters and offers over a dozen roles with unique loadouts. The commander role is particularly coveted, as it involves coordinating squad movements and utilizing powerful abilities. The game is currently available at a discounted price of .49/£17.49 on Fanatical, with Deluxe and Ultimate editions at even greater discounts. A sequel, 'Hell Let Loose 2,' set in Vietnam, is expected next year.

AppWizard

November 6, 2025

OpenAI’s Popular Sora App Launches on Android: Find Out Who Can Access It

Bill Peebles, head of OpenAI's Sora, announced that Sora is now available on the leading mobile operating system but is currently restricted to select regions: United States, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

AppWizard

November 5, 2025

OpenAI’s Sora 2 app has arrived on Android — but there’s a catch

Sora 2, OpenAI's latest AI video generation app, has expanded its availability to Android users, following its initial release for Apple devices. The app is now accessible via the Play Store in select countries, including Canada, the United States, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. OpenAI has faced controversies regarding the app's ability to recreate the likenesses of celebrities and historical figures, leading to legal challenges and apologies from CEO Sam Altman. In response, OpenAI has adjusted its policies to require explicit consent from celebrities for the use of their likenesses and implemented safeguards to prevent the creation of videos featuring individuals who have opted out.