Fine of 100 million VND for administrative violations in press and publishing activities

Fines of 10-20 million VND will be imposed for acts of insulting the honor and dignity of journalists and reporters while they are performing their jobs. Fines of 20-30 million VND will be imposed for threatening the lives of journalists and reporters, destroying, intentionally damaging or illegally seizing journalistic equipment and documents of journalists and reporters...”.

That is part of the content of Decree No. 159/2013/ND-CP, dated November 12, 2013 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in press and publishing activities. The Decree stipulates that the maximum fine for individuals violating in this field is 100 million VND, and for organizations is 200 million VND.

In addition to the penalties prescribed in the Decree, violating organizations and individuals must take measures to remedy the consequences caused and must suffer additional penalties.

Reporter of the Television Center of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper working (Photo: Tran Quynh)

In the field of journalism: Violations of licensing regulations are subject to fines of 3 million to 100 million VND. Specifically, fines of 1 to 3 million VND are imposed for lending a Journalist Card to another person for journalistic activities, using another person's Journalist Card for journalistic activities, using a Journalist Card that has been altered, erased, or expired for journalistic activities... Fines of 5 to 10 million VND are imposed for impersonating a journalist or reporter to conduct journalistic activities, taking advantage of the status of a journalist or reporter to interfere with or obstruct the lawful activities of organizations or individuals. Fines of 5 to 10 million VND are imposed for taking advantage of the status of a journalist or reporter for personal gain.

For acts of operating print, radio, television, or electronic newspapers without a press license as prescribed, forging a press license, or using a fake license to operate a press... the fine is from 70 to 100 million VND.

Illegal obstruction of press activities is punishable by a fine of 5-30 million VND. Specifically, a fine of 5-10 million VND will be imposed for illegally obstructing the professional activities of journalists and reporters. A fine of 10-20 million VND will be imposed for insulting the honor and dignity of journalists and reporters while they are performing their professional activities. A fine of 20-30 million VND will be imposed for threatening the life of journalists and reporters, destroying, intentionally damaging or illegally seizing the means and documents of journalists and reporters for their press activities.

Warning or fine from 200,000 to 500,000 VND for the act of not citing the source of information or citing the wrong source of information when posting or broadcasting in the press; not clearly stating the full name, real name or pen name of the author; using news articles to post or broadcast in the press but not knowing the real name and address of the author...

Fines of 5 - 10 million VND for the following acts: posting or broadcasting false information causing serious consequences, meticulously describing acts of obscenity, slashing, killing, or gruesome accidents in news, articles, or photos; posting or broadcasting information promoting bad customs, superstitions, or heresy; using images of Vietnam's map but not showing or incorrectly showing national sovereignty...

Fines of 70-100 million VND will be imposed for posting or broadcasting works that have been banned or confiscated; posting or broadcasting information that is harmful to national interests or causes national disunity...

Administrative violations in publishing activities: fines range from warnings to 100 million VND, of which the heaviest fines are for acts of establishing a publishing house without a license or establishment decision; establishing a representative office of a foreign publisher in Vietnam without a license; disseminating information that harms national interests or causes national disunity; publishing a map of Vietnam but does not show or shows incorrectly national sovereignty; distorting historical truths, denying revolutionary achievements, insulting the nation, famous people, national heroes...

Those who disseminate information that incites violence, depravity, or superstition that is not in accordance with good customs and traditions; slander or offend the reputation of agencies, organizations, or the honor and dignity of individuals; or provide false information that infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals shall be fined from 20 to 40 million VND.

For administrative violations of reporting regime: acts subject to fines of 3 - 5 million VND include: failure to report, explain or report, explain with incorrect content, time limit and requirements of competent state agencies, failure to report to competent state agencies when discovering published publications, printed products containing content prohibited in publishing activities... fines of 5 - 10 million VND for acts of reporting, explaining dishonestly according to regulations or at the request of competent state agencies...

This Decree takes effect from January 1, 2014, replacing Decree No. 02/2011/ND-CP dated January 6, 2011 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in press and publishing activities./.

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam