The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is seeking to formalize and advance the collection of voice biometrics for Việt Nam’s Identity Database.
The Latest: On Sept. 7, the MPS closed public consultation on a draft circular establishing national technical standards for voice biometrics.
- The proposal would establish dedicated standards governing the collection and processing of voice biometrics for “policing and the national digital economy.”
- According to the draft submission accompanying the circular, the measure would standardize the “collection, management, and use” of voice biometrics for the Identity Database. (page 4)
- The latest consultation proposal no longer includes age-based voice collection.
Specific Provisions: In an explanatory document, the ministry says that voice data “has been and continues to be collected and stored in the Identity Database to support the identification and authentication of citizens when requested, contributing to digital transformation in policing and the national digital economy.” (pages 3–4)
- Citing the absence of a “common standard,” the ministry describes national standards as “necessary and urgent” to ensure “interoperability, data sharing, and scalability within the voice biometrics management system associated with identity records.” (page 4)
- Furthermore, the ministry says the standards could “improve reliability and integration capabilities and effectively support national digital transformation goals in identity management.” (page 4)
The Background: The MPS first sought public comment on proposed voice biometrics collection procedures in October 2025.
- This initial proposal called for collecting voice samples at different ages, beginning at age 6; it subsequently drew strong public opposition.
Following the pushback, the government issued Resolution 22 on April 29, 2026, abolishing provisions for voice biometrics collection at the provincial and ministerial levels.
Shortly after, on May 15, 2026, the MPS issued Decision 2709, containing similar provisions.
- News outlets subsequently gave extensive coverage to the ministry’s “abolition of procedures for collecting” voice biometric information for identity records.
However, the following month, on June 29, the ministry clarified that “the abolition applies only to the implementation of these procedures at the ministerial and provincial levels,” meaning collection could still take place at the commune level.
On Aug. 18, 2026, the ministry issued Decision 5230, adding the collection of voice biometric information for the Identity Database to the powers of commune-level police.
Why It Matters: Under the 2023 Law on Identification, the Identity Database includes voice biometric information, but providing it is not mandatory for everyone.
- The law permits collection in two specific circumstances: when an individual provides it voluntarily, or when judicial or administrative authorities request an expert examination or collect the information. (Article 16, Clause 1, Point d)
Hoàng Nam wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on September 9, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
