Vietnam’s parliament adopted reforms to the media and state secrets laws on Wednesday which press freedom advocates say will make it harder for journalists to protect the identities of their sources and increase legal risks for reporting.

“We are appalled by the further restriction to the legal framework governing press freedom in Vietnam,” Aleksandra Bielakowska, from Reporters Without Borders, said on Wednesday.

The changes will make Vietnam “an almost impossible place for journalists to report freely”, said Bielakowska.

Reporters Without Borders ranks Vietnam 173rd of 180 countries in its world press freedom index.

Vietnam’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Vietnam’s lawmakers adopted a revamped press law, to take effect in July, which will require j

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