Paying a high price for mistakes in using social networks

Expensive lessons...

Although social network accounts such as Facebook, Zalo, YouTube, Messenger... are personal and users can register freely, not everyone knows how to use them to ensure interaction and not violate the provisions of the Law on Cyber ​​Security.

In fact, there have been many cases, including officials and civil servants who violated regulations when using social networks, leading to prosecution and legal proceedings. For example, on May 27, 2019, Nguyen Nang Tinh - a teacher at Nghe An College of Culture and Arts was prosecuted by the Nghe An Provincial Police Department's investigation security agency, and issued an arrest warrant for the defendant for temporary detention for the crime of "Making, storing, disseminating or propagating information and documents against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam".

Authorities take Nguyen Nang Tinh's statement. Photo: PV

Nguyen Nang Tinh, from Quynh Hung commune, Quynh Luu district but residing in hamlet 6, Nghi Phu commune, Vinh city. In addition to working at the school, this person also participated in activities against the Party and the State, including using the social network Facebook to post and share articles, videos, and images with propaganda content, distorting the Party and State's guidelines and policies, defaming the people's government; distorting history, defaming leaders... with the aim of opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; infringing upon the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals.

The information posted on Nguyen Nang Tinh’s personal Facebook page is sufficient evidence for the authorities to arrest and prosecute this subject. Nguyen Nang Tinh’s incident is a lesson and a warning for those who are arrogant and delusional in cyberspace.

Also in May 2019, a shocking incident involving violations when using social networks was shared by many Facebook accounts with the purpose of warning, considering it a valuable lesson for those who lack understanding when using social networks.

That was the case of Mr. Le Huu Thuan - Head of the Department of Marxist-Leninist Theory, Ho Chi Minh Thought of Tran Phu Political School, Ha Tinh province, posting on his personal Facebook status false information about the health of Party and State leaders, causing negative public opinion among cadres, party members and people, reducing the prestige of himself and the Party organization, and the agency he works for. Immediately after that, Mr. Thuan was suspended from all Party and professional positions by the school for handling.

The subjects were arrested by Vinh City Police for committing online fraud and property appropriation. Photo: Trang Bac

Not only cadres and party members, but also any individual who uses social networks to cause negative impacts on the community will be severely punished. For example, a young man named Tran Van Thuoc from Nghe An, working as a construction worker in Gia Lam district, Hanoi, posted a video of a construction site and spread rumors on his personal Facebook page that an electric shock incident had occurred at a project in the area, killing 24 people. Immediately after that, Gia Lam district police verified and summoned Tran Van Thuoc for investigation and handling.

Actively bring the Cyber ​​Security Law into life

In 2018, right from the 5th session of the 14th National Assembly passed the Law on Cyber ​​Security, preparing for the law to take effect from January 1, 2019, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued Plan No. 147-KH/TU on propaganda work to contribute to stabilizing the security and order situation, including propaganda about the Law on Cyber ​​Security among cadres, workers, civil servants and people of all walks of life. Accordingly, the purpose of the plan is to help cadres, party members and people of all walks of life "correctly perceive the policies and guidelines of the Party and State on socio-economic development, especially issues related to the Law on Cyber ​​Security".

Mr. Kha Van Tam - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department said: The Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department has issued an official dispatch directing units and localities to actively propagate the Law on Cyber ​​Security, regularly mention these contents in meetings, conferences and urge the grassroots to pay attention to implementation. In which, organizations such as the Fatherland Front, associations and unions such as Veterans, Women's Union, Youth Union, Farmers... must be the leading organizations in propaganda work. In addition, union members must be the pioneers in implementation.

Rules for using social networks.

And currently, the dissemination of the provisions of the Law on Cyber ​​Security is being promoted by localities, agencies and units with the motto that each cadre and party member is an active propagandist of the Law on Cyber ​​Security, focusing on the effective use of social networks.

Most recently, the Provincial Political School Youth Union coordinated with the Provincial Agencies Bloc Youth Union to organize a discussion on "Youth and the use of social networks" attracting the participation of many young cadres and civil servants in the bloc.

Through the discussion, opinions expressing views on how to use social networks effectively and avoid violating the provisions of the Law on Cyber ​​Security were enthusiastically discussed by union members, who are also cadres, workers and civil servants of the Provincial Agencies. Good practices and valuable experiences were then posted by the members participating in the discussion on their personal Facebook pages, agencies and units, creating a high spreading effect.

Many opinions have raised views and ways to use social networks to "fight against wrong and hostile views in the face of the information explosion", shared experiences of "the Youth Union effectively using social networks in propaganda and education work for young people" or ways to turn social networks into useful tools to set good examples, promote beauty, and eliminate ugliness...

Comrade Duong Thanh Binh - Vice Principal of the Provincial Political School said that the seminar has "opened up" many understandings and orientations for cadres, union members and youth in using social networks, both ensuring the information and connection needs of individuals, and at the same time serving the work and political tasks of agencies and organizations.

From clearly identifying social networks as a double-edged sword, each cadre, civil servant, and public employee, especially young people, needs to be properly aware of their responsibilities when participating in social networks; take advantage of the positive aspects of cyberspace to spread good deeds, prevent and fight against bad elements that take advantage of social networks to distort and sabotage the Party and State, causing public confusion, and negatively affecting the interests of the community.