Zalo 'forces' users to agree to illegal terms and conditions, netizens outraged, flooding the internet with 1-star reviews!

The Zalo app is facing a wave of fierce criticism after being accused of "forcing" users to accept new terms and conditions that appear to be illegal. In response to this imposition, the online community has collectively expressed anger, calling for a campaign to flood the app with one-star ratings and demanding clarification.

Shocking ultimatum: Agree or your account will be terminated.

In late December 2025, the Vietnamese online community was abuzz with a new announcement from Zalo. Instead of a typical feature update, the platform introduced a coercive requirement: users were forced to accept the new terms of service if they wanted to continue using the platform. Notably, if they did not click the "I agree" button, their accounts would be locked and permanently deleted within 45 days.

This move immediately met with fierce resistance. Many users, such as Mr. Tran Danh Trong (from Ha Tinh province), expressed their outrage, arguing that the terms were extremely vague and lacked transparency. According to him, forcing users to "accept the terms before using the service" was disrespectful and deprived them of their basic right to choose. In particular, the content related to the collection and use of personal data was deemed "seriously detrimental" and showed signs of illegally infringing on privacy rights.

The "one-star rating storm" campaign and widespread boycott wave.

Beyond mere complaints, the online community's outrage has translated into concrete action. On the two largest app stores, App Store and CH Play, Zalo has been continuously bombarded with one-star reviews and numerous negative comments. As of the afternoon of December 29th, the app's rating on the App Store had plummeted to a dismal 3 stars.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang (Cau Giay district, Hanoi) shared her frustration with this imposition: "The terms and conditions are too long and difficult to understand, leaving ordinary users with almost no choice but to blindly click 'agree'." Ms. Trang believes that a large social media platform needs to respect its users by clearly disclosing their rights and responsibilities, instead of using "account suspension" as a threat. Concerns about the unauthorized access to personal data have severely eroded user trust in Zalo.

Legal questions and the future for "Make in Vietnam" social networks.

The situation escalated when a wave of calls emerged on major technology forums and social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok to delete the Zalo app and switch to more secure platforms. Many expressed concerns that Zalo's actions might violate Vietnamese regulations on personal data protection. Some users even suggested that the government should soon develop or license a new social media platform with similar functions but ensuring legal compliance and absolute respect for privacy.

The Zalo case has once again raised alarm bells about the power of social media platforms over user data. Abusing their dominant position to force customers to accept unfavorable terms not only damages brand reputation but can also lead to complex legal consequences. Amidst the public outcry, the question is whether Zalo will listen to its users and make adjustments, or continue to stubbornly pursue this controversial policy and accept the loss of a large number of loyal customers to foreign competitors.

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