Fine of 500,000 VND for not citing sources of information when publishing in newspapers

The Government issued Decree 159/2013/ND-CP on November 12, regulating violations, forms, levels of penalties, remedial measures, authority to draw up records and authority to impose administrative penalties for violations in press and publishing activities.

Illustration photo. Source: internet.

Administrative violations in press and publishing activities include: violations in press activities; violations in publishing activities; violations of reporting regime.

The maximum fine for individuals is 100 million VND, and for organizations is 200 million VND. For the same administrative violation, the fine for an organization is twice the fine for an individual.

Specifically, a warning or a fine of between VND200,000 and VND500,000 shall be imposed for one of the following acts: not citing a source of information or citing a wrong source of information when publishing or broadcasting in the press; obstructing the provision of information to the press by organizations or individuals; not making statements and providing information to the press as prescribed; not completing procedures to request a change of license as prescribed when changing the name of the governing body or the name of the publisher;...

One of the following acts will be fined from 1-3 million VND: lending a press card to another person for journalistic activities; posting or broadcasting false information but not causing serious impact; illustrating or shortening headlines that do not match the information content, causing readers to misunderstand the information content; storing, distributing printed publications, illegally copying, counterfeiting, illegally reprinting or publishing without invoices or documents;....

Fines of 5-10 million VND shall be imposed for one of the following acts: posting or broadcasting false information causing serious consequences; meticulously describing obscene acts, slashing, killing, or gruesome accidents in news, articles, or photos; posting or broadcasting obscene, nude, or revealing news, articles, or photos that lack aesthetics and are not in accordance with Vietnamese customs and traditions; using images of Vietnam's map but not showing or not showing correctly the national sovereignty; importing non-commercial publications without an import license or not in accordance with the content stated in the license...

Also in this decree, for one of the following acts: posting or broadcasting distorted or slanderous information aimed at insulting the honor and reputation of an organization or the honor and dignity of an individual; printing publications, newspapers, and anti-counterfeit stamps but the printing facility does not meet the operating conditions as prescribed... will be fined from 10 to 20 million VND.

The Decree clearly states that a fine of 20-30 million VND will be imposed for one of the following acts: posting or broadcasting false information causing very serious consequences; posting or broadcasting information inciting violence, obscenity, depravity... and a fine of 70-100 million VND for the following acts: posting or broadcasting works that have been banned from circulation or confiscated; posting or broadcasting information that is harmful to national interests or causes national disunity; printing or duplicating newspapers or publications that have been withdrawn, confiscated, destroyed or have prohibited content...

The Decree takes effect from January 1, 2014.

According to VNA