By Gwurld4026 
Government Crackdown: Vietnam Jails Critic for Online Speech
On February 27, 2025, a Vietnamese court sentenced prominent journalist Truong Huy San, known by his pen name Huy Duc, to 30 months in prison for Facebook posts critical of the government. San, 63, was convicted for posting 13 articles on Facebook that authorities claimed had a “negative impact on social order and safety.” During the trial, he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Huy Duc has a notable history in Vietnamese journalism, having worked for influential state-run newspapers before establishing a widely read blog and Facebook presence where he critiqued the country’s communist leadership on issues such as corruption, media control, and relations with China.
This sentencing is part of a broader pattern in Vietnam, where the ruling Communist Party maintains strict media censorship and shows little tolerance for dissent. In recent years, several journalists and activists have been imprisoned for online content deemed anti-state. For instance, in August 2024, activist Nguyen Chi Tuyen received a five-year prison sentence for anti-state activities related to his online posts.
Additionally, Vietnam has implemented stringent social media regulations, such as Decree 147 in December 2024, which require users to verify accounts with personal information and mandate platforms to remove content deemed illegal within 24 hours. These measures have been criticized for stifling free speech and aiding government censorship.
Human rights organizations have condemned these actions, asserting that they suppress peaceful criticism and violate international laws protecting free expression.