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A communications campaign, Chien dich Tin, has been launched in Hanoi to enhance cyberculture in Vietnam and increase public awareness in the battle against misinformation. Carrying the message “News online, how to trust,” the ‘Tin’ campaign, where “Tin” means both news and trust in Vietnamese, will equip internet users with fundamental knowledge and skills to identify and prevent fake news and harmful content. It also seeks to instil a sense of responsibility when it comes to creating, posting, and sharing information online.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam noted that this initiative aligns with the government’s broader objective of cleaning up the social media landscape, considering that 80 million Vietnamese citizens use the internet daily. It will contribute to a healthier and more secure digital environment.
The campaign is set to run throughout October and November, including activities such as an “Anti Fake News” content creation competition and a programme to improve cyberculture in the region. During the contest, which takes place from 2-28 October, participants need to post a video of at least 15 seconds with the hashtag #AntiFakeNews #tin. The total prize pool for the winners is VND 150 million (US$ 6,100).
In Vietnam, authorities have introduced specific regulations defining the actions and obligations of relevant stakeholders. These rules have reduced the deadline for internet service providers to remove fake news and harmful content from 48 hours to 24 hours, and the fines for spreading fake news have been tripled to discourage such activities.
Last month, the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam organised an ASEAN regional forum focused on addressing disinformation in the digital realm. During the forum, participants discussed ways to unite ASEAN nations in the fight against fake news and misinformation.
Participants recommended solutions and methods to facilitate the exchange of best practices from various countries and news agencies within the region. Furthermore, the forum promoted cooperation in the ASEAN and between governments, localities of member countries, and social media platforms in the field.
Minister Lam noted that since 2017, ASEAN has issued a series of statements and initiated various activities aimed at increasing public awareness regarding the harmful effects of fake news. These efforts have encompassed programmes, workshops for sharing policies, and campaigns geared towards boosting the public’s digital literacy. Authorities have also fostered mutual learning among electronic information management agencies.
During a previous Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), the ministers approved a framework and a joint statement aimed at mitigating the consequences of fake news. This provided a standardised reference point for ASEAN member countries to strengthen collaboration, exchange information, and put forward viable solutions to counter the spread of false information. In 2022, the 19th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) formally approved Vietnam’s proposal to create an ASEAN Special Task Force on Fake News.
At the most recent AMRI, Vietnam announced it would partner with Thailand to combat fake news. The two sides agreed that journalistic ethics are key to ensuring news reliability and urged more information sharing between agencies.
Throughout its term as chair, Thailand emphasised the theme of “Digital Community and Accessibility for All” to address the challenges posed by COVID-19. Despite these difficulties, the media and information sectors, particularly the SOMRI working group, have joined forces to enhance media and digital literacy, combat fake news, and bridge the gap for vulnerable communities in their response to the pandemic.
An official from the Thailand government said that under Vietnam’s leadership, all ASEAN member states will maintain their strong collaboration in advancing the region’s preparedness for the digital era and fostering media and information literacy across the region.
