CaliToday (29/12/2025): Vietnam’s dominant messaging platform, Zalo, is facing a wave of public scrutiny following a mandatory update to its Terms of Service (ToS). The changes, rolled out over the weekend, have triggered widespread confusion and reignited national conversations about digital privacy and data ownership.
The "Data for AI" Controversy The controversy centers on new clauses regarding data utilization. While Zalo maintains the update is to ensure compliance with Vietnam's tightening cybersecurity laws, eagle-eyed users noticed ambiguous language regarding the use of user-generated content.
Specifically, the new terms appear to grant the platform broader rights to analyze message metadata and interaction history to "optimize service experience and train integrated Artificial Intelligence features." This has led to fears that personal conversations long considered private on the platform could be used to feed advertising algorithms or train Zalo’s AI assistants.
Confusion and "Click-to-Survive" Social media platforms were abuzz on Monday with screenshots of the lengthy legal text. Many users expressed frustration at the complexity of the language.
"It feels less like a request for consent and more like an ultimatum," said Nguyen Minh Tu, a marketing manager in District 1. "The prompt essentially says: agree to these vague terms or stop using the primary way you communicate with your boss and family."
The Dilemma of Free Services Tech analysts suggest this move is an inevitable step for VNG (Zalo's parent company) as it seeks to monetize its massive user base and compete with global giants in the AI race.
"Free apps are never truly free; data is the currency," notes Tran Van Hung, a cybersecurity analyst based in Hanoi. "However, the lack of clear, plain-language explanations regarding who gets to see this data and how it is shared with third parties is what is driving the current anxiety."
While a mass exodus to encrypted alternatives like Telegram or Signal is unlikely due to Zalo's deep integration into Vietnamese daily life, the backlash serves as a critical test of user trust for the homegrown tech unicorn.