In a world where privacy has become increasingly significant, the EU facilitates the free movement of information while ensuring the protection of personal data.

Ngo Minh Hieu (also known as Hieu PC), a specialist at Vietnam’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), made a guest appearance on the latest YouTube episode of FYI Chat with EU Ambassador to raise awareness around the importance of data protection. As a cyber crime investigator, he works around the clock to detect malicious websites and other illicit activities such as information trading and identity theft.

Citing a recent report by the Ministry of Public Security that two-thirds of the Vietnamese public’s information has been leaked on the internet – s story which was broadly covered in local media – Hieu PC outlined the difficulties of cyber security, as heightened by the popularity of social media and threats from the dark web.

The EU shares these challenges with Vietnam, and recognises the need to work bilaterally towards joint solutions. In addition to strict data protection laws to safeguard privacy, EU Member States and institutions regularly cooperate to tackle cyber crimes for a safer internet.

Data protection is considered a basic human right in the EU, set out in articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. A separate regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1725) – harmonised with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which standardises the protection of all data of natural persons – also applies to the EU’s external action when processing personal data. It guarantees a high level of data protection when collecting and storing personal data for the benefit of external partners.

In the week since the episode’s release, it along with its teaser and separate Q&A clip have attracted over 27 000 views. Past and upcoming episodes from the FYI series can be watched on the EUD’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.