To intensify sanctions on online fake and misleading information about Covid-19

On July 23, Ministry of Information and Communications issued Document No. 2765/BTTT-PTTH&TTDT on the implementation of Resolution No. 78/NQ-CP of the government on strengthening sanctions on fake, false and misleading news and facts about Covid-19 online.

Accordingly, Ministry of Information and Communications proposes ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and People's Committees of provinces and cities, based on their assigned functions, tasks and authority related to disease prevention and control, to direct the strict implementation of regulations on statements and information provision to the press; on  appointment of a spokesman to proactively provide information, in all situations, to ensure that information is provided quickly, without being passive or unexpected;  on strengthening the identification of fake news and false information about the epidemic situation and disease prevention and control at ministries, branches and localities; on  promptly reports to the authorities when detecting fake and misleading news.
Competent agencies need to direct the press and media forces under their control to closely follow the direction and orientation of propaganda by highlighting the first goal of protecting and, taking care of people's health and life; of capturing foreign media public opinion to coordinate with functional units of Ministry of Information and Communications and the press force nationwide to promptly counter misrepresentations and proactively provide information to the people. In addition, ministerial-level units need to direct the Departments of Information and Communications, based on their assigned competence, to strictly sanction press agencies, general websites, and social networks that publish and distribute fake news, causing confusion and misunderstanding about the epidemic situation and disease prevention and control in the locality; on directing the subordinate forces involved in epidemic prevention and control to strictly and strictly comply with the regulations of the competent authorities to have a proper attitude towards the people and avoid causing irritation, discontent, and heating up the issues while spreading unfavorable information on social networks to affect the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures.

Reported by Tam Trang - Translated by Vi Bao

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