Social media needs stricter management.
Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP dated November 9, 2024, regulates the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information, adding new regulations aimed at changing the habits of social media users.
On the morning of November 28th, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a conference to summarize and evaluate activities in the field of electronic information in 2024, set directions for 2025, and disseminate Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP dated November 9, 2024, regulating the management, provision, and use of internet services and information on the network.
The conference was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Information and Communications and 63 other locations at the Departments of Information and Communications nationwide.
The rapid development of the electronic information sector.
According to the report byMinistry of Information and CommunicationsIn 2024, an additional 80 general news websites and 40 domestic social networks were licensed. The total number of Vietnamese users on domestic social networks was approximately 110 million. The total number of Vietnamese users on foreign social networks was approximately 203 million.
Specifically, the number of monthly Zalo users (as of June 30, 2024) is 76.5 million. The number of Facebook users in Vietnam is 72 million, YouTube is 63 million, and TikTok is 67 million. Thus, at present, the Zalo platform has more registered accounts than these three cross-border platforms combined.
In 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued 23 G1 electronic game licenses and 30 G2, G3, and G4 electronic game certificates. The Ministry also issued 13 confirmations of contact information for foreign organizations and individuals conducting cross-border advertising services in Vietnam.
According to estimates, the gaming industry's revenue in 2024 is expected to reach approximately 12,500 billion VND, a slight decrease compared to 2023. The number of employees in the gaming industry in 2024 is estimated at around 4,100 people, an increase of 31% compared to 2023.
In 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Departments of Information and Communications in localities inspected, reviewed, and rectified 236 websites, general information websites, social networks, and social media accounts. Of these, 46 cases were penalized with a total fine of over 1 billion VND.
Local Departments of Information and Communications also inspected 1,040 general information websites and social networks, detecting, handling, and correcting 290 websites showing signs of violating legal regulations (20 cases exhibiting "journalistic" behavior), and reviewed and processed 83 domain names showing signs of violations (requiring the revocation of 2 domain names).
In 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications continued its efforts to combat and require platforms to block and remove information that violates Vietnamese law. As a result, Facebook blocked and removed 8,981 pieces of content that were subversive to the Party and State, or violated Vietnamese law (94%); Google blocked and removed 6,043 pieces of infringing content on YouTube (91%); and TikTok blocked and removed 971 pieces of infringing content (93%).
Use your real name when using social media.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long said that, looking back over the past year, the Ministry of Information and Communications has observed that the field...electronic informationThey have made positive contributions to the Information and Communications sector in particular and to social life in general.
According to Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long, in recent years, cyberspace has made sharing and accessing information increasingly convenient and easy, contributing to the development of the knowledge-based economy, increasing democracy and transparency; the types of information on the internet are becoming more diverse and abundant to meet the needs of people for information exchange in various fields.
Domestic social media platforms have gradually attracted a large number of Vietnamese users. However, in reality, the influence and impact of information on domestic social media platforms are still limited compared to cross-border platforms. Information appearing on fraudulent websites is still very prevalent.
Over the past period, the Center for Handling Fake News, Harmful and Malicious Information of the Ministry of Information and Communications has connected with local centers for handling fake news, harmful and malicious information to form a national fake news handling network (20 provinces and cities). Thanks to this, localities have been able to proactively verify and immediately handle violations in their areas.
Furthermore, in recent times, the "journalistic" nature of online information sites has been identified and promptly addressed by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Central Propaganda Department through a series of solutions: inspections, audits, administrative penalties, and even considering suspension of operations. As a result, the "journalistic" nature of general information websites and social networks has significantly decreased, although some violations still occur in certain areas and at certain times.
Cross-border advertising management has become more organized, with major service providers aware of and complying with advertising regulations.
In addition, the Ministry of Information and Communications has collaborated with video game production and distribution companies to implement many important activities that are geared towards the development of the industry.
However, the continued presence of pirated games and games supplied across borders into Vietnam has negatively impacted the healthy development of the domestic gaming market, creating unfair competition. In the coming period, the Ministry of Information and Communications, along with other relevant agencies, will coordinate with businesses and localities to review and address this issue.
At the conference, the Ministry of Information and Communications disseminated Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP dated November 9, 2024, regulating the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information.
This decree adds new regulations aimed at changing the habits of social media users. Accordingly, social media users must verify their identity with a phone number and personal identification number, and only verified accounts are allowed to provide and share information on social media.
Regulations aim to restrict anonymous users from spreading false, harmful, and malicious information. Social media users must use their real identities; regulations prohibit children under 16 from using social media; and regulations regarding the "journalistic" nature of social media.
At the same time, the regulations promote the decentralization and delegation of administrative procedures for game licensing from the Ministry to the Departments of Information and Communications, from the central to local levels; and supplement regulations on the management and processing of information on the cyberspace by ministries, sectors, and localities, etc.
