Vietnam introduces new fines for fake news, defamatory content

Vietnam will begin imposing fines of between 20 million and 30 million Vietnamese dong (approximately $794-$1,190) on individuals who post or share fake, misleading, distorted or defamatory content on social media that damages the reputation of organisations or the honour and dignity of individuals.

The same level of penalties will apply to users who share graphic images of killings, violent acts, accidents or other disturbing incidents, Caliber.Az reports, citing Chinese media.

Distributing copyrighted journalistic, literary or artistic works without permission, advertising banned goods or services, publishing maps that inaccurately depict Vietnam's sovereignty, or circulating links to online content prohibited under Vietnamese law will also be considered violations.

Under the new rules, fines ranging from 30 million to 50 million Vietnamese dong (about $1,190-$1,984) will be imposed on those who publish content that falsifies historical events, denies revolutionary achievements, weakens national unity, insults religions, or promotes gender or racial discrimination, provided the offences do not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.

The higher penalty will also apply to the disclosure of state secrets, personal privacy or other confidential information that does not constitute a criminal offence, as well as the spread of false information that triggers public panic, disrupts socio-economic activities, interferes with the work of state institutions or public officials, or violates the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and individuals.

The new measures are part of a government decree scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov