Vietnam: What is the penalty for sharing unverified information on social networks?

Main Content

• What is disinformation sharing?
• Penalties for sharing false information on social networks in Vietnam
• Remedial measures for sharing false information on social networks

What is disinformation sharing?

False information is information that has not been verified, censored or is inaccurate and untrue information. Anyone who shares unverified, censored, or inaccurate information is considered sharing false information. With the development of information technology today, social networks are no longer a stranger. Almost every individual has at least one social media account. Because people think that behind those virtual accounts on social networks, no one will know who they are and no one will manage them, so now there are many people who unknowingly share false information, mainly to social networks. The seemingly innocuous share button inadvertently causes you to break the law unintentionally. Many people join social networks but lack legal knowledge, lack of self-responsibility, leading to law violations. Many people have been fined for "unintentionally" sharing their own false information.

Penalties for sharing false information on social networks in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Clause 2, Article 101 of Decree 15/2020/ND-CP of Vietnam, the penalties for sharing false information on social networks are specified as follows:

1. A fine ranging from VND 10,000,000 to VND 20,000,000 shall be imposed for the commission of one of the following violations:

a) Providing/sharing fake or false information with the aims of distorting, slandering or damaging the prestige, honor and dignity of other organizations, authorities or individuals;

b) Providing/sharing information with the aims of encouraging unsound customs, superstitions or pornography, or which is not conformable with the national good traditions and customs;

c) Providing/sharing information describing in detail acts of cutting off/killing, accidents, horror and frightful acts;

d) Providing/sharing fictitious information with the aims of causing a panic among the population, inciting violence, crimes, social evils, gambling or serving gambling activities;

dd) Providing/sharing journalistic, literature and arts works and other publications without the consent from holders of intellectual property rights over such works, or which are not allowed to be distributed or subject to a distribution prohibition or confiscation decision;

e) Advertising, disseminating or sharing information on prohibited goods/services;

g) Providing/sharing images of Vietnam’s map which does not indicate the entire and accurate national sovereignty;

h) Providing/sharing paths/links to prohibited information on networks.

2. A fine ranging from VND 20,000,000 to VND 30,000,000 shall be imposed for disclosing information classified as state secret, an individual’s privacy or other secrets if not liable to criminal prosecution.

Sharing false information

Remedial measures for sharing false information on social networks

Pursuant to Clause 3 Article 101 of Decree 15/2020/ND-CP of Vietnam on penalties for administrative violations against regulations on postal services, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology and electronic transactions, remedial measures for sharing false information on social networks are stipulated as follows:

“Article 101. Violations against regulations on responsibility of social networking service users

…

3. Remedial measures:

Enforced removal of false, misleading or violating information in case of commission of any of the violations in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article.”

According to Clause 3 Article 4 of Decree 15/2020/ND-CP, the fine specified in Chapters II through VII of this Decree shall be applied to administrative violations committed by organizations, except for the provisions in Clause 3, Article 4 of Decree No. Article 106 of this Decree. In case individuals commit violations like those of organizations, the fine level is 1/2 of the fine level imposed on organizations. Therefore, for the act of sharing false information on social networks, the maximum penalty for the above-mentioned celebrity individuals will be VND 15,000,000. At the same time, it is necessary to take remedial measures for their acts of sharing false information, which is to force the removal of false information.

Above is some information we provide to you about the penalty for sharing false information on social networks. Best regards!