Chief Inspector of Nghe An Department of Information and Communications: Be careful when sharing information about Covid-19

PV:Over the past half month, Nghe An has continuously recorded Covid-19 cases. Along with that, information has been widely posted on social networks and newspapers. However, there is a lot of information that is false or violates regulations. Are you aware of this situation, sir?

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan:One of the functions and tasks of the Department of Information and Communications is to manage information on the internet and in the press. Therefore, we have grasped and promptly processed all information in general and information about the Covid-19 epidemic in particular posted on the internet and in the press related to Nghe An to ensure that the information posted and broadcast is true, avoiding causing panic among people in the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic.

In particular, through the work of managing information on the internet, we have found a lot of false information, information causing public confusion, and information that has not been officially announced about the Covid-19 epidemic posted on the internet by a number of reporters, press agency collaborators, and local officials on their personal Facebook pages.

Meanwhile, information that has not been officially announced by the competent authority about the Covid-19 epidemic is often leaked very early, causing panic among people in the prevention of the epidemic. Regarding this, on June 18, the Director of the Nghe An Department of Health sent a document requesting the Provincial Police to investigate the disclosure of information about the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Police summoned a woman in Nam Dan for posting false information about Covid-19. Photo: TH

PV: How will false information about Covid-19 and information violating patients' privacy affect you, sir?

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan:False information about the Covid-19 epidemic will cause confusion for people when receiving information, thereby affecting people's lives, affecting local economic development, especially affecting security and order in the area. Information violating the privacy of patients will affect the lives, the treatment process of patients, and the lives of relatives, family, and neighbors of patients.

The most worrying thing is that patients' private lives are being exploited too much, their schedules are being made public on social networks, making many F0s and F1s hesitate to declare their schedules to health authorities. Because of fear of their private lives and relationships being revealed, especially recently, some patients have had their Facebook accounts accessed by some social network users to attack and "throw stones". When these people make dishonest declarations, it will greatly affect the process of disease prevention.

Leaking test results online is a violation of regulations. Photo: TH

PV:Faced with these realities, what actions have the authorities in Nghe An taken, sir?

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan:The Department of Information and Communications has promptly disseminated and directed local press agencies to disseminate the actual situation of Covid-19 prevention and control that the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee, sectors and localities have been implementing so that people can be assured in implementing epidemic prevention measures, as well as in daily life and production and business activities. Strictly handle in accordance with the law, and at the same time require individuals and organizations that provide false information to correct the information immediately on their personal information pages or on the media where the organization or individual posted and broadcast the information.

PV:Currently, are there any specific regulations regarding the provision of relevant information?pandemicIs Covid-19 in the press as well as on social networks, sir?

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan:Currently, there are no legal documents specifically regulating the posting of information related to the Covid-19 epidemic in the press as well as on social networks. However, press agencies and organizations and individuals using social networks who want to post and broadcast information about the Covid-19 epidemic must ensure the truth and comply with legal regulations, including: Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases; Law on Press, Law on Cyber ​​Security; Law on Telecommunications, etc.

There are even fake answer sheets online that many people believe.

The above mentioned legal documents prohibit the publication of information that violates the patient's right to privacy, which is the right to keep confidential information about health status and private life recorded in medical records.

PV:How will the act of posting false information about the Covid-19 epidemic or personal information of Covid-19 patients be handled and is it regulated in which legal documents?

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan:If these acts occur, depending on each specific case, one of the following legal documents will be applied to handle administrative violations or criminal cases:

- In case an organization or individual provides inaccurate information about the Covid-19 epidemic situation after declaring the epidemic or declaring the end of the epidemic according to the content provided by the competent state health agency. The level of handling is as follows:

+ For individuals, the fine ranges from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 VND. In addition, the remedial measure of "Forcing correction of false information on local mass media that has previously reported for 3 consecutive days according to the provisions of law" is also applied.

+ For organizations, the fine ranges from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 VND. In addition, the remedial measure of "Forcing correction of false information on local mass media that has previously reported continuously for 03 days according to the provisions of law" is also applied.

The form of sanction is prescribed in Point a, Clause 3 and Point a, Clause 4, Article 5, Decree 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020 of the Government regulating sanctions for administrative violations in the health sector.

- In case an organization or individual provides false information, slanders, distorts, or insults the reputation of an agency or organization, or the honor or dignity of an individual related to Covid-19 prevention and control. The level of handling is as follows:

+ For individuals, the fine ranges from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND. In addition, the remedial measure of "Forcing the removal of false or misleading information or information that violates the law" is also applied.

+ For organizations, the fine ranges from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 VND. In addition, the remedial measure of "Forcing the removal of false or misleading information or information that violates the law" is also applied.

The form of sanction is prescribed in Point a, Clause 1 and Clause 3, Article 101, Decree 15/2020/ND-CP dated February 3, 2020 of the Government stipulating sanctions for administrative violations in the fields of post, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology and electronic transactions.

- In case an individual or organization provides personal information of a Covid-19 infected patient in violation of the law. The penalty is as follows:

+ For officials, the fine is from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND.

+ For organizations, the fine is from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 VND.

The form of sanction is prescribed in Point a, Clause 3, Article 102, Decree 15/2020/ND-CP dated February 3, 2020 of the Government stipulating sanctions for administrative violations in the fields of post, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology and electronic transactions.

In addition to regulations on administrative sanctions, organizations and individuals who post fake information, false information, or distorted information about the Covid-19 epidemic situation on computer networks and telecommunications networks may also be subject to criminal prosecution under Article 288.Penal Code 2015.