Request Facebook, Google, TikTok… to prevent and remove tens of thousands of infringing content

The situation of “reporting”, fake news causes frustration

Before the questioning session at the Wednesday session, the 15th National Assembly, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung sent to the National Assembly delegates a report on a number of contents related to the group of questions in the field of inquiry. information and communication sector.

In particular, the report focuses on the inspection and management of websites, electronic information pages and other online platforms as well as the handling of individuals and organizations that post information through the Internet. distorting, untruthful on electronic information sites, illegally collecting, buying and selling personal information data.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Information and Communications said that information content on websites, websites and online platforms is currently provided by two sources:

Firstly, provided by domestic organizations and individuals with clear origin, licensed by the Ministry of Information and Communications and/or not licensed to operate. Most of these sites comply with the current laws of Vietnam.

Secondly, from news sites of unknown origin, with international domain names, located in foreign countries, providing information in Vietnamese; from foreign social networks providing cross-border supply to Vietnam, of which Facebook (70 million accounts), Youtube (with 60 million accounts), Tiktok (45 million accounts) are social networks with many people. Vietnam used the most.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung will answer questions at the Wednesday session of the 15th National Assembly.

General website, domestic social network is one of the popular communication methods today. Besides the positive side is the extension arm of the press agencies, spreading official information on the network environment, in recent times, the situation of “reporting” the general information website, social network. Social networks (general information websites, self-produced social networks with news content like press agencies) tend to increase, causing frustration in public opinion when many organizations and businesses are affected. These subjects write news articles in the form of investigations, reflecting unfounded information to threaten and harass.

Foreign websites, cross-border platforms operating as a content production and distribution channel, owners of large platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, TikTok, Netflix… often make their own regulations. for content management (referred to as community standards) and universally applicable, with very limited compliance with local laws.

Therefore, fake news and malicious information mainly appear and spread strongly on cross-border platforms. The handling of violations faces many difficulties due to inadequate, incomplete and synchronous regulations and sanctions.

Request to remove 16 Facebook groups, block 6 Youtube channels in 2022

Over the past time, the Ministry of Information and Communications has thoroughly grasped and directed the drastic implementation of Resolution No. 134/2020/QH14 dated November 17, 2020 of the National Assembly, the directions of the Politburo, the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, of the Government and the Prime Minister in strengthening the management and development of various forms of communication and information on the Internet.

The Ministry has introduced corrective measures for organizations and businesses providing these services.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, in collaboration with the Central Propaganda Department and relevant authorities, has drastically dealt with the situation of “notifying” general information websites and social networks, gradually limiting this situation.

In addition, the Ministry of Information and Communications has strengthened coordination with ministries, departments, branches and localities to manage and handle according to its competence violations of cyberspace, especially acts of spreading fake news and information. untruthful, offending the honor and dignity of organizations, enterprises or individuals; use offensive language, violate fine customs and traditions; advertising illegal products and services…

The Ministry of Information and Communications also advises on the development of legal documents to supplement and complete regulations in the management of general electronic information sites and social networks.

Notably, the Ministry of Information and Communications has been very proactive in directing the functional units of the Ministry to resolutely and persistently deploy to fight fiercely, forcing cross-border platforms, typically Facebook, Google, Tiktok, Apple, etc. Netflix must prevent and remove malicious content, fake news, false news, false advertising, and objectionable content. Recently, the Ministry of Information and Communications has focused all resources to implement this task.

Actively scan, monitor, measure and evaluate online information trends in order to identify and detect malicious sources of information, hot issues of public concern to promptly fight and prevent information. malicious activities, notably the establishment and effective operation of the National Cyberspace Monitoring Center, which functions as a technical focal point for monitoring and assisting in ensuring information security for people and businesses. industry and information systems of the Party and State, with the ability to scan 300 million information/day; and at the same time coordinate with technology enterprises to develop tools to scan and capture social opinion online to provide to ministries, branches and localities for use.

Results achieved in the first 9 months of 2022, functional units of the Ministry of Information and Communications coordinated with the Departments of Information and Communications to handle 134 domain names that cause confusion with press agencies, 14 domains with signs of providing information. advertising for video game services of a gambling nature; issued 114 decisions on sanctioning administrative violations for violations in the provision of websites and social networks with a total amount of over VND 1,944,500,000.

Authorities also prevent and remove tens of thousands of infringing content on cross-border platforms. From 2021 up to now, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Departments of Information and Communications have issued 591 decisions to sanction administrative violations with a total amount of VND 6,128,150,000.

The Ministry has asked businesses providing cross-border social networking services such as Facebook, Google (Youtube), TikTok… to prevent and remove tens of thousands of infringing content (current average blocking rate). over 93%). In particular, in 2022, Facebook has accepted to remove 16 associations and groups with unhealthy and harmful content for children. In addition, 11 fake accounts of individuals and organizations have been removed; Youtube has blocked 6 reactionary Youtube channels from accessing from the territory of Vietnam (there are more than 1,500 video clips).

However, the Ministry of Information and Communications said that there are still limitations, such as the concept of “publication”, “privatization” of the press has not been specified. Many new services and methods of providing content have arisen online, such as livestreaming activities on cross-border social networking platforms, content spreading quickly, when there is a violation, the impact is large. causing frustration in society, while the request to prevent and remove according to the process takes time.