"Participating in social networks is a journalist's civil right!"

According to Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan, the law cannot force journalists not to participate in social networking sites, which is their civil right. However, journalists are not allowed to post anti-state propaganda or false information on social networks...

At the 9th session held in Da Nang recently, the National Assembly's Committee on Culture - Education - Youth - Adolescents & Children unanimously voted to approve the report on the draft Law on the Press (amended) to submit to the 10th session of the 13th National Assembly (scheduled to take place in November 2015) for comments.

Delegates agreed on the report on the content of the draft revised Press Law.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan said that Article 33 (amended and supplemented) in the draft Press Law (amended) basically retains many provisions of Article 15 of the current Law on the rights and obligations of journalists, with some wording revised for accuracy and completeness, and has added that journalists are obliged to comply with regulations on professional ethics of journalists.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly delegate Vu Hai (Deputy General Director of Voice of Vietnam - VOV) expressed his opinion regarding the responsibility of journalists. He raised the question: "Recently, journalists of course do what they do when they do journalism, but how do we manage the social networking sites that they participate in? What is the responsibility of journalists?"

Mr. Vu Hai also reflected: “On the side of the Radio (VOV), there are also many journalists, mostly on the official media of the Radio, so there is no problem. But on social networking sites, it is different, sometimes people quote websites…”.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan immediately replied: “This cannot be stipulated in the Law, but it is the regulation of each press agency. If you work at my press agency, you cannot post this on social media, and you cannot post opinions contrary to the opinions of my press agency!!”.

Regarding the case of VOV, Deputy Minister Truong Minh Tuan stated: “When you work at Voice of Vietnam, you are not allowed to express opinions different from those of Voice of Vietnam on another media outlet according to the regulations of the station. If you want to express your opinions, you must leave the station. Those are the rules and regulations of each press agency!”

Mr. Hoang Huu Luong, Director of the Press Department, added: “Every country does it like that!” Deputy Minister Truong Minh Tuan continued: “The BBC has such regulations. Yesterday, I read to some of you the BBC’s regulations on this matter!”

Mr. Vu Hai - Deputy General Director of Voice of Vietnam Radio Station spoke at the meeting.

Mr. Vu Hai said: “But if the regulations of the Radio Station for the press go against other laws, it is often not simple, it is very troublesome for the press managers!” Mr. Hoang Huu Luong said, according to the experience of other countries, the press agency sets the regulations and lets all reporters discuss them. If you have no other opinion, you agree with the regulations of the press agency, then you must comply.

One delegate spoke up: “That (participating in social networks – PV) is a citizen’s right”. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan agreed and added: “Journalists are also citizens. The law cannot force journalists not to post on social networks, because that is their citizen’s right!”

According to point e, clause 2, Article 10 of the draft Press Law (amended) on "Prohibited contents and acts in press activities", "it is strictly forbidden to post or broadcast on social media and electronic information sites information of a press nature that violates clause 1 of this Article (propaganda against the state, harming national security, social order and safety; dividing and undermining the great national unity bloc; disclosing secrets; false information, distortion, slander, insulting the reputation of agencies, organizations, honor and dignity of individuals; information inciting violence...).

According to infonet