VNExpress-Sept 8
Telecom providers have cut services to 13 million mobile subscribers, blocking all calls and repossessing lines, after users failed to verify their identity under new regulations. Circular No. 08 on authenticating mobile subscriber data, which took effect on Apr 15, requires customers to verify their SIM registration through the government’s national digital identity app, VNeID. Starting Aug 15, carriers suspended calling on unverified accounts. Those who failed to complete the process after a five-day grace period, ending on Aug 20, had their phone numbers permanently reclaimed. A spokesperson for the Authority of Telecommunications told VnExpress that all 10 domestic mobile carriers have synchronized more than 115 million mobile numbers with the National Population Database and linked them to the VneID platform. Of them, 102 million numbers have been standardized, verified under a registered owner, and integrated into citizens’ digital identity profiles. The rest are either barred from calls or revoked altogether for failing to complete the identity checks. The revised framework also introduces biometric facial scanning and in-app usage confirmation on VneID, ensuring that the person registered to an account is indeed the primary user. Authorities said mobile SIM cards are one tool exploited by bad actors to flood the public with spam calls and nuisance texts, making strict subscriber oversight an essential step. In September, the Authority of Telecommunications will partner with the cybercrime division and the administrative police agency to inspect how telecom companies are enforcing the mandate.
Meanwhile, cybercrime investigators are working on changes to national decrees aimed at preventing spam texts, unwanted emails, and robocalls. “Anyone breaking the law will face strict penalties,” the telecom authority warned, urging citizens to understand why using verified phone lines matters.
Regulators also advised the public to promptly alert authorities whenever they encounter suspicious text messages, fraudulent calls, or potential scams. Read more at:
