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•January 6, 2026The Vietnamese Government is trying to pass the new law that forces the social media platforms like YouTube to let users skip ads in 5 seconds. The law comes affect on February 25, 2026
Quick Overview
The Vietnamese government is set to implement a new law, effective February 15, 2026, mandating that online video advertisements be skippable after five seconds and prohibiting deceptive ad practices to enhance consumer protection.
- Effective Date: New provisions to the national Advertising Law (Decree No. 342) take effect from February 15, 2026.
- Ad Skippability: Video and animated ads must be skippable after 5 seconds, while static ads must be immediately cancellable.
- User Experience: Platforms are forbidden from using fake or vague cancel buttons and must provide clear, one-tap ad closure options.
- Reporting Mechanism: Platforms must include visible symbols and guidelines for users to report violating ads and allow them to opt out of inappropriate content.
- Enforcement: Advertisers, service providers, and ISPs are responsible for blocking infringing ads within 24 hours, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Ministry of Public Security overseeing compliance.
- Product Regulation: The decree also tightly regulates ads for 11 specific categories, including cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and alcoholic drinks.
Key Points
Key Provisions of Vietnam's New Ad Law
- Vietnam's new regulations, outlined in Decree No. 342, impose strict limits on online advertising [Hacker News].
- Video and animated ads must provide a skip option after no more than 5 seconds [Hacker News, /r/Technology].
- Static advertisements are required to be immediately cancellable [Hacker News, /r/Technology].
- Platforms are forbidden from using false or vague symbols to confuse users and must implement clear, one-tap ways to close ads [Hacker News, Neowin, Slashdot].
- The decree also extends its oversight to advertisements for 11 specific categories of goods and services that directly impact human health and the environment, such as cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals [Hacker News].
Enforcement and User Reporting Mechanisms
- Online platforms are mandated to add visible symbols and guidelines for users to report law-violating ads [Hacker News, Slashdot].
- Users must be enabled to turn off, deny, or stop seeing inappropriate ads, with reports received and processed promptly, and results communicated [Hacker News, Slashdot].
- Advertisers and service providers are responsible for blocking and removing infringing advertisements within 24 hours of receiving a request from competent authorities [Slashdot].
- For ads infringing on national security, blocking and removal must occur immediately, no later than 24 hours [Slashdot].
- In cases of non-compliance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security, will apply technical measures to block infringing advertisements and services [Slashdot].
Legislative Context and Objectives
- The Vietnamese Government is introducing Decree No. 342, which outlines significant amendments to the national Advertising Law, aimed at regulating online advertising [Hacker News].
- The primary objectives include establishing stricter controls on online advertising activities, enhancing consumer protection, and effectively curbing illegal advertisements [Hacker News].
- This decree specifically targets pervasive issues such as unskippable advertisements and ads that mislead users with fake cancel buttons, rendering these practices illegal within the country [Neowin, Slashdot].
- The comprehensive new regulations are scheduled to become effective starting February 15, 2026 [Hacker News].
Outline
1. Overview and Implementation Timeline
1.1. Purpose and Scope of the Decree
1.2. Effective Dates
1.3. General Impact on Online Advertising
2. Key Regulations on Ad Interaction and User Control
2.1. Ad Skipping Requirements
2.2. Static Ad Cancellability
2.3. Clear User Interaction and Prohibition of Deception
2.4. Reporting and Opt-Out Mechanisms
3. Specific Advertising Content Regulations
3.1. Regulated Goods and Services
4. Enforcement, Compliance, and Penalties
4.1. Identification and Reporting of Violations
4.2. Responsibilities for Blocking and Removal
4.3. Consequences of Non-Compliance
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