Request to identify Facebook, YouTube, TikTok accounts: Received a lot of support

Will strictly comply

On May 8, speaking at the explanation session of the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that in the coming time, the authorities will require all social network account holders, whether individuals or organizations, to carry out identification - applicable to foreign social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok... This regulation has been included in the decree replacing the decrees on management and use of information on the network that are being revised and will be issued in 2023, in order to prevent subjects from taking advantage of technology to commit crimes in cyberspace.

Identifying accounts on cross-border social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok is something that needs to be done soon. Photo: Trong Dat

TikTok in Vietnam said that if there are regulations, TikTok will strictly comply. Also according to TikTok's representative, when there is a legal basis, identifying personal accounts on the platform will be easier and can be done quickly. In fact, an identified account has much higher value than a current account, but there must be a legal framework to require users to do so. For example, on TikTok, in reality, about 30% of accounts for buying and selling goods have identification, the remaining 30% are "virtual" accounts, which are rarely used.

Meanwhile, Google did not comment because this is an issue related to users' personal information. But according to Mr. TS - a person who manages many large entertainment channels on YouTube in Ho Chi Minh City, Google's YouTube accounts have been identified, because if users do not verify, they will be restricted in many ways, for example, uploading (posting) long-time video content. This platform will basically identify by phone number and can almost manage users who are active on it. Mr. TS also supports the authorities' request for cross-border platforms to identify users' accounts, because it will reduce the online fraud that has been causing trouble for society in recent times.

Particularly with the social network Facebook,VietNamNethave also sent questions and are waiting for a response regarding the request to identify user accounts. In fact, up to now, when users in Vietnam register for a Facebook account, they are required to verify with documents issued by the state such as ID cards, citizen identification cards or passports and are encouraged to use real names. Users who verify their accounts when encountering problems will be supported by the platform, otherwise the account cannot be restored when hacked, or disappear when there are sweeps of "fake" accounts.

Many users have also expressed their agreement with this account identification, saying that if done well, it will limit fraud, fake news, etc. Account owners will be more responsible for the information they post on social networks. According to Mr. Nguyen Duy Vi - Director of Buzi Media Company in Ho Chi Minh City, the implementation of identification will help make the information environment on social networks healthier.

“Without identifying people, they can freely post negative information, or even create groups to share information in the form of "fighting", individuals, organizations or businesses without caring about the consequences they cause, so it is necessary to quickly identify users on social networks to limit this situation.”, Mr. Vi shared more.

There is still a problem of "fake" accounts.

According to Mr. Khoi Nguyen, a person working in social network services in Ho Chi Minh City, the worrying thing here is that users can still use "virtual" identification, such as using tools to create a series of fake documents provided by authorities... for verification. With this method, they can still "dodge" to create a series of fake accounts on social networks.

Mr. TS also said that it is extremely difficult to eliminate "fake" accounts today. From TikTok to features like Watch and Reels of Facebook, "fake" accounts are created innumerably and even these social networks cannot stop them. People who make money online (MMO) have many ways to exploit loopholes in platforms to make money on them or serve bad purposes. By faking IP or taking advantage of loopholes in the account creation regulations of cross-border social networks, a series of "fake" accounts are still continuously created. It can be seen that more than 80% of "fake" accounts on cross-border social networks today are created for advertising purposes to make money, the rest serve other purposes, including politics. So this is a huge challenge for management agencies.

However, opinions expressed hope: Although difficult, the authorities will have solutions to minimize the above situation in the coming time, because when there is a clear legal framework, it will have a deterrent effect on organizations and individuals who violate.