The Vietnam Competition Commission has fined the operators of social media platforms Zalo and TikTok a total of VND1.7 billion (US$64,700) for violations related the collection of user data.
VNG Corp, the operator of Zalo, had to cough up VND810 million for failing to create mechanisms that allow users to choose the scope of information they agree to provide or give them the choice of consenting or refusing to give certain types of personal data, the commission said Thursday.
It lacks mechanisms that enable users to choose whether to allow or deny the use of their personal information for advertising and other commercial activities.
VNG also includes clauses prohibited by the law in its terms and had been ordered to remove them.
A VNG spokesperson said the company has cooperated with authorities to address the issues, revised several policies and is continuing to address the remaining issues, they said.
The logo of Zalo is seen on a smartphone. Photo by Read/Luu Quy |
Zalo, the most popular homegrown social media platform in Vietnam, issued a controversial update to its terms of service in late December 2025, and required users to consent if they wanted to continue using it. It raised concerns over data privacy and security.
The commission fined Singapore-based short video platform TikTok VND880 million. It too lacked mechanisms that allowed users to consent to or refuse the use of their personal information for advertising and promotions.
It provided incomplete information that could mislead users, and had prohibited clauses in its terms, but the commission did not elaborate on these violations.
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