Fake news - a dangerous 'pandemic'

The undeniable truth

With the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy", Vietnam has had strategic decisions, drastic and creative direction from the Central to the grassroots level, with the determination and consensus of Party committees at all levels, the Government, Ministries, Departments, branches, localities and the entire people. It can be affirmed that Vietnam hasCovid-19 prevention and controlby the combined strength of the entire political system and the entire Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Party, the management of the Government and all levels of government.

With many drastic prevention and control measures, Vietnam has achieved important results, contributing with countries around the world to control, prevent, repel and minimize the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Compared to other countries in the world, the number of people infected and dying from the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam is quite low; the number of people cured is high.

Vietnam is still controlling the situation, minimizing the number of Covid-19 infections in the community. Photo: File

While the number of infected people in many countries around the world is increasing rapidly every day, Vietnam is still controlling the situation, minimizing the number of infections in the community... It is no coincidence that the World Health Organization and the international community assess Vietnam as one of the few countries with the most effective Covid-19 prevention and control activities in the world in the context of being a low-middle income country with limited resources for investment in health care. This is a reality that no one can deny.

Fake news, real consequences

However, in contrast to that spirit and determination, a number of reactionary, opportunistic, politically dissatisfied elements and bad guys have linked up and colluded with a number of reactionary exiled organizations to take advantage of freedom of speech and internet freedom, exploiting the advantages of cyberspace, especially social networks, to propagate, distort,distortion of viewpoints, policies, and measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam; distort and deny the results we have achieved in the work of preventing and fighting the pandemic.

More dangerously, within our own internal affairs, there are cases of people being connected and enticed by outsiders to take advantage of the epidemic situation to spread fake news and toxic news related to the Covid-19 pandemic on social networks to sabotage. Along with that, some people lacking political acumen, limited awareness and responsibility have collected and mixed up unverified information and posted it on social networks; participated in commenting, sharing, and spreading false and untrue information about the epidemic situation and the prevention and control work of our Party, Government and people. The widespread appearance of fake news and toxic information right from within our own internal affairs is no different than helping hostile and reactionary forces sabotage the country.

Taking advantage of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, hostile forces and bad elements continuously spread fake and toxic information. Photo: Document

The consequences of thesefake news, "fake news"The consequences are very clear. Internationally, distorted, falsified, and untrue information has more or less made the world skeptical, misunderstood, and incomplete about Vietnam's viewpoints, guiding ideology, determination, and results in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic; negatively affecting Vietnam's foreign relations with countries in the region and the world. Fake, distorted, and falsified information undermines people's trust in the Party's leadership role, inciting people to oppose the Party and the State. Not only negatively affecting groups and individuals, fake news also seriously affects the direction and operation of Covid-19 prevention and control activities, especially disrupting information, causing panic and fear in public opinion, creating social instability; negatively affecting the production and business activities of enterprises and the Vietnamese economy.

Stay alert so as not to help bad guys

Of course, those who provide false information or fake news will be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution depending on the nature and severity of the violation. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been many cases nationwide that have been severely punished for posting, disseminating, commenting, and sharing bad, toxic, and false information. Especially during the recent Lunar New Year, the Public Security sector coordinated with competent authorities to handle dozens of cases of taking advantage of social networks to spread false information, exaggerate, and heat up the epidemic situation; distorting, falsifying, and providing false information about the leadership and management activities of the Government, ministries, branches, and local authorities related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the epidemic situation in many countries around the world is still complicated, seriously affecting the economy, Vietnam is still considered one of the countries that effectively prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic. The Party, Government and people of Vietnam have succeeded in achieving the dual goal of both effectively preventing and controlling the epidemic and developing the economy and society and are continuing to promote those results and experiences in the new situation. However, the situation of some people with limited awareness, lack of responsibility, and taking advantage of the epidemic situation to spread fake news and bad news has sounded the alarm about responsibility and civic ethics in the work of preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic.

Strengthening propaganda and education work to raise awareness and knowledge about the Covid-19 epidemic among the people. Photo: VNA

Strengthen control measures, detect and resolutely handle cases.misinformationIt is necessary to provide information on the developments and situation of the epidemic, but that is only a temporary solution, a final solution. The fundamental and long-term solution is to promote the role of all levels, sectors, and functional agencies, especially press and media agencies, in promoting propaganda and education to raise awareness and knowledge about the Covid-19 epidemic for the people. When people have correct awareness and have enough necessary knowledge, they will be calm, not gullible, and confused by unverified information on social networks. On the other hand, through propaganda and education, people will have knowledge of the law, clearly understand the sanctions for spreading fake news, false news, and manifestations of negligence, subjectivity, and failure to strictly implement regulations on prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The organization's propaganda and education work is very important, but the decision is still a subjective factor of each person. We need to unify the perception that cyberspace is like the living environment. Pollution of the living environment causes extremely serious consequences, seriously affecting human health and life. Joining hands to protect the living environment is the responsibility of the whole community. Similar to cyberspace, if the social network environment is not clean and polluted by the widespread appearance of bad and toxic information, the consequences will also be extremely serious and severe. Therefore, to keep cyberspace and the social network environment safe, healthy, friendly and livable requires the cooperation of the whole community. When participating in the online environment, people need to be alert, with knowledge and understanding to consider carefully and thoroughly the huge amount of information posted every day and every hour. Do not comment or share false, unverified information out of gullibility, trust, or temporary frustration. Such actions not only erode trust in the Party and the government, making it difficult to prevent and fight the Covid-19 pandemic, but also destroy the lives of individuals and communities, turning yourself into an accomplice to hostile, reactionary, and opportunistic political forces that sabotage the country.