Significant increase in penalties for posting and broadcasting clickbait information in Vietnam

Significant increase in penalties for posting and broadcasting clickbait information in Vietnam​ (Illustration)

Decree 119/2020/ND-CP (effective from December 1, 2020) will replace Decree 159/2013/ND-CP (expired from December 1, 2020) and introduces changes in the fines for the act of posting and broadcasting clickbait information in press, newsletters, and special publications in vietnam.

Article 8 of Decree 119/2020/ND-CP prescribes fines for posting and broadcasting clickbait information in press, newsletters, and special publications in Vietnam as follows:

- A fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 for one of the following acts:

- Posting and broadcasting false information causing minor effects;

- Illustrating or titling articles inappropriately causing readers to misunderstand the content;

- Posting and broadcasting feedback that does not fully represent the content as regulated or not timely.

- A fine of VND 30,000,000 to VND 50,000,000 for posting and broadcasting information about the personal relationships and family of individuals involved in criminal cases or negative incidents without evidence proving those relationships are relevant to the issues or without conclusions from competent state authorities.

- A fine of VND 50,000,000 to VND 70,000,000 for one of the following acts:

- Posting and broadcasting false information causing substantial effects;

- Posting and broadcasting false, distorted, defamatory content affecting the honor and reputation of organizations, the honor, and dignity of individuals.

- A fine of VND 70,000,000 to VND 100,000,000 for posting and broadcasting false information causing very serious effects;

- A fine of VND 150,000,000 to VND 200,000,000 for the act of:

- Posting and broadcasting distorted, fabricated information causing public confusion;

- Posting and broadcasting distorted historical information, denying revolutionary achievements, insulting the nation, or national heroes.

Additionally, according to Article 8 of Decree 159/2013/ND-CP, the act of posting and broadcasting false information to create clickbait information in press, newsletters, and special publications is subject to administrative penalties as follows:

- A fine of VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 for the following act:

- Posting and broadcasting false information without causing serious effects;

- Illustrating or titling articles improperly causing readers to misunderstand the content.

- A fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 for one of the following acts:

- Posting and broadcasting false information causing serious effects;

- Posting and broadcasting information about the personal relationships and family of individuals involved in criminal cases or negative incidents without evidence proving those relationships are related to the issues or without conclusions from competent state authorities.

- A fine of VND 10,000,000 to VND 20,000,000 for one of the following acts of posting and broadcasting distorted, fabricated information to defame the honor and reputation of organizations, or the honor and dignity of individuals.

- A fine of VND 20,000,000 to VND 30,000,000 for posting and broadcasting false information causing very serious effects.

Decree 119/2020/ND-CP significantly increases fines compared to Decree 159/2013/ND-CP for the act of posting and broadcasting clickbait information in press, newsletters, and special publications. Additionally, Decree 119/2020/ND-CP also supplements fines for the act of posting and broadcasting distorted, fabricated information causing public confusion and distorting history, denying revolutionary achievements, insulting the nation, and national heroes. Therefore, as of December 1, 2020 (the official effective date of Decree 119/2020/ND-CP), the act of posting and broadcasting clickbait information in press, newsletters, and special publications will be fined from VND 5,000,000 to VND 200,000,000 depending on the level of violation. Furthermore, the fines for the above violations are applicable to organizations, whereas individuals are subject to half of the fines imposed on organizations.

Ty Na

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