Vietnam accuses YouTube of 'slander and distortion' in videos

The Ministry of Information has expressed concern over YouTube videos that violate Vietnamese laws.

Officials in charge of online information at the ministry said they had found 17 videos containing slanderous content and distorted historical facts that could stir national unrest. One of those videos was the recommended link following a regular music video, they said. “It’s a serious matter that YouTube allows videos containing bad content to stay online and available to Vietnamese users,” an official said.

Advertisements featuring big Vietnamese brands appear before and during these videos, which can damage the brands and their reputations, officials said.

Le Quang Tu Do, deputy director of the ministry’s Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, said the companies, their advertising agents and YouTube were all responsible for not checking the content.

A source from one of those companies told VnExpress they had no idea their brand and products had been attached to the videos, adding that they will verify and work with their advertising partners to resolve the matter.

Vietnamese officials said they have found 17 videos with slander, distortion and provocation content on YouTube. Photo by Reuters
Vietnamese officials said they have found 17 videos with slander, distortion and provocation content on YouTube. Photo by Reuters

A representative from Google, which manages the popular video sharing site, said any viewers can report improper videos and ask for them to be taken down. However, Do said global content providers such as Google and Facebook must follow Vietnamese laws and proactively protect Vietnamese users.

“We will ask the government to impose penalties and technical measures if these providers do not follow Vietnamese laws,” he said.

The ministry plans to meet with the businesses, as well as with YouTube and Google, to ask them to remove the content.

Nearly 49 million people in Vietnam, or more than half of the country’s population, are internet users. A Nielsen survey released last September found that 92% of them watch online videos at least once a week and 64% are daily viewers.

Vnexpress

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.