Facebook Forums: Regulate but Don't Hinder Freedom of Speech

A recent dispatch from the Press Department (Ministry of Information and Communications) sent to press agencies requesting increased management of editorial content on fanpages (forums on Facebook) is causing public concern about freedom of speech.

Director of the Press Department Luu Dinh Phuc had an interview with reporters about this issue.

Could you please tell me why the Press Department sent Official Dispatch No. 779 to press agencies requesting to strengthen the management of information content on Facebook fanpages?

The integration of many types of journalism today is very suitable for the needs of the people, so many domestic press agencies have opened fanpages to post articles from electronic newspapers. However, through recent inspection, monitoring and handling of violations, it has been shown that some press agencies have opened fanpages on Facebook but have not had a strict mechanism to censor comments. Therefore, some subjects have taken advantage of this to distort the Party's policies, the State's policies and laws, defame the reputation and honor of high-ranking leaders, and cause bad public opinion in cyberspace.

Director of the Press Department Luu Dinh Phuc

Most recently, a mainstream newspaper with a large readership violated this issue and was punished. Previously, offended individuals and organizations had filed complaints, and after checking, it was found that such a case had occurred, so the Department issued a document recommending that press agencies strictly manage this issue.

But sir, according to some press agencies, it is very difficult to "sit and watch" comments under articles because comments are constantly updated and even shared very quickly, making it very difficult for press agencies to control?

If a press agency accepts to use a fanpage, it must ensure its information, and may have to use technical measures or personnel to control it. When opening a fanpage and widely publicizing its information page on social networks, it must be responsible for the information on it, cannot blame it on the opinions of others, and cannot let its forum become a place to infringe on the rights and legitimate interests of other individuals and organizations.

Everyone has the right to freedom of speech online but must still comply with the general ethical and legal standards of each country.

Facebook is a site that allows anonymity, you can say many things and deny responsibility, but here as a State agency, in its official name, that agency must comply with the provisions of the law because every information on it represents the viewpoint of that agency. If there is no censorship mechanism, some subjects will take advantage of these legitimate forums to post comments insulting individuals, organizations and distorting information.

Therefore, if press agencies do not censor and allow bad forces to take advantage and present wrong views, insulting individuals and organizations, then those agencies must take responsibility.

For example, an article posted on a fanpage will be shared a lot, even within 30 minutes it can record thousands of shares and comments. However, with the name of a press agency posting the article on the fanpage, the "comments" below are also understood as related content posted on that newspaper, so that agency will have to take responsibility.

Specifically, when posting any issue on fanpage, press agencies need to pay attention to comments, proactively inform and control, and not let it go.

That is an incorrect understanding, a way of reasoning, because any country has legal regulations to protect individuals participating in the online environment. Protection here means creating conditions for individuals to have freedom of speech, and in our country it is the same. However, an individual can say many things but must not insult other individuals or organizations. Therefore, this Official Letter is to recommend that press agencies protect the users of social networking sites and organizations, not to hinder freedom of speech.

So, if the press agencies make mistakes, how will they be handled, sir?

I would like to reiterate that Official Letter No. 779 of the Press Department is intended to advise press agencies to pay attention to the issue of information management. However, if violations occur, press agencies will be punished according to the provisions of Point g, Clause 3, Article 66, Decree 174/2013/ND-CP dated November 13, 2013 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions in the fields of post, telecommunications, information technology and radio frequencies. The fine can be up to tens of millions of VND.

Specifically, the act of "Providing, exchanging, transmitting or storing, using digital information to threaten, harass, distort, slander, or insult the reputation of an organization, honor, dignity, or reputation of another person" (Point g, Clause 3, Article 66) is subject to a fine of 10 million to 20 million VND; the act of "Providing false information, slander, distort, or insult the reputation of an agency, organization, or honor, dignity, or reputation of an individual" (Point a, Clause 3, Article 64) is subject to a fine of 20 million to 30 million VND; the act of "Proactively providing false information, slander, distort, or insult the reputation of an agency, organization, or honor, dignity, or reputation of an individual" (Point a, Clause 4, Article 65) is subject to a fine of 30 million to 50 million VND...

According to Chinhphu.vn