Balancing the Right to Access Information, the Right to Privacy, the Right to Personal Data Protection, and the Right to be Forgotten in the Digital Age: the Case of Vietnam

Before the advent of the information technology revolution, there was a strong desire for freedom of information and how to access it, as such freedom could be considered as a right to defend rights, meaning that information provided the ‘basis’ for defending other rights. However, with the abundance and diversity of information and information technology applications, a vast information environment has emerged that transcends national borders with a growing public demand for the protection of privacy right, personal data protection right, and the right to be forgotten. The development of devices using information technology has facilitated the posting of information on the internet, leading to increased privacy infringements and personal data breaches. Also, many individuals wish their information would not be permanently stored online. Thus, this paper analyzes the relationship between the freedom of information, privacy right, personal data protection right, and the right to be forgotten, and reviews relevant regulations in Vietnam in order to propose legal reform recommendations.