Protecting the legitimate interests of businesses against the 'wave' of fake news

Corporation X “owes 800,000 billion VND, about to go bankrupt”, Corporation Y “traps” people with electricity prices, the leader of Company Z is banned from leaving the country… sensational, baseless news, and personal prejudiced comments, when posted online, can quickly reach millions of people.

When shared at breakneck speed, misinformation in cyberspace can have real consequences for businesses.

Fake news is rampant, businesses are struggling

Vingroup Corporation is the latest “victim” of fake news. According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman and General Director of Vingroup, social media accounts have fabricated and distorted many contents, focusing on 4 groups: Financial situation, product quality and origin, legal issues, as well as personal information of the corporation's leaders.

Mr. Quang affirmed: “We cannot remain silent while some people arbitrarily violate the law, fabricate and mislead public opinion, and lower the reputation and dignity of organizations and individuals. The lawsuit not only protects Vingroup’s interests but also fights for the truth, for a civilized society with the rule of law.”

Currently, Vingroup has established a record as evidence, worked with domestic and foreign lawyers, and sent notices to embassies to handle according to the laws of each country.

Booth displaying products achieving Vietnam National Brand 2024. (Photo: Contributor/Vietnam+)

Looking back over the past time, many businesses and entrepreneurs have been harassed by fake news, greatly affecting their business activities, family life and themselves.

Before Vingroup, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) also had to speak up to clarify the incident where many social media accounts posted incorrect information about electricity prices.

In today's business environment, reputation is a vital factor for every business. Therefore, false information spread on social networks not only damages the image and brand but also directly affects business activities. Behind the business are the jobs of thousands and tens of thousands of workers. Not to mention, the spreading of false rumors, slander and distortion on the internet is currently being exploited by some individuals and organizations to sabotage the country, seriously affecting the Vietnamese brand in the international market that we have worked so hard to cultivate.

Many social network users, out of curiosity, are led by fake information, leading to clicking on dangerous links that pose many risks.

Resolution 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo on private economic development clearly stated: "Strictly prohibit acts of harassment, negativity, providing false and inaccurate information that affect businesses and entrepreneurs."

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang once warned that the consequences of fake news and false news are unpredictable, causing many serious consequences, becoming a major threat to the socio-economic situation, even directly threatening national sovereignty and global security. The Minister of Public Security said that the consequences in the economic field are particularly evident in securities, finance, and real estate, with cases causing capital losses of thousands of billions of VND.

Protecting businesses from fake news

Vingroup’s announcement to sue 68 individuals and organizations at home and abroad for spreading false information about the corporation is causing a stir across the internet. It can be seen that most people, businesses and even key opinion leaders (KOLs) on social networks have voiced their support for this action.

According to media expert Le Quoc Vinh, Chairman of Le Bros, fake news is a major social problem.

Communications expert Le Quoc Vinh, Chairman of Le Bros. (Photo: FBNV)

“The person who spreads fake news does not simply make up something that does not exist, but more sophisticatedly creates a story, distorts a certain truth based on a few so-called real factors, so it is easy to manipulate people's beliefs (disinformation). But, the most trick is to assign a meaning, a conspiracy theory that is completely contrary to the truth, and reverses people's beliefs (malinformation),” Mr. Vinh analyzed.

This expert has also been the victim of slander and has helped many businesses and individuals fight against fake news, so he clearly understands the advantages and disadvantages of measures to prevent fake news.

“You can justify yourself, you can report to the authorities, but few people file a lawsuit. There have been businesses that have successfully filed a lawsuit, but not many do so. And so, fake news still prevails. Information transparency is still the most important proactive measure. Filing a civil lawsuit is a step forward and a civilized action,” Mr. Vinh expressed his opinion.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Vu Duy Hien, Deputy Secretary General, Chief of Office of the National Cyber Security Association, said that fake news is becoming more and more sophisticated. In addition to causing economic damage to businesses, fake news is also a "funnel" that attracts people's attention, from which bad guys can take advantage, steal personal information, send bad links, and scam.

According to Mr. Hien, this situation requires businesses to proactively provide official and transparent information to the public and the media.

Resolution 68 of the Politburo for the first time puts the private economy in the central position, as the most important driving force of the economy. It is time for the State, businesses and the whole society to join hands to protect this "important driving force" from the problem of fake news.

Sharing with reporters of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper, Mr. Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) affirmed that organizations and individuals who take advantage of social networks and cyberspace to spread fake news and false information to insult the honor and reputation of other organizations and individuals are violating the law.

According to current regulations of Vietnamese law, these acts are strictly prohibited and have strong sanctions, including criminal measures.

Mr. Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Mr. Le Quang Tu Do personally supports Vingroup's lawsuit. He hopes that other organizations and individuals will also use the lawsuit channel more, bringing the case to court to protect their legitimate rights, honor, and reputation. Because that is the way to behave, both in accordance with regulations and in line with the civilized trend of the times.

From the perspective of State management, Mr. Le Quang Tu Do said that he will consider based on current regulations to clarify the contents related to the false information mentioned by Vingroup.

“At the same time, we are also working with cross-border platforms such as Meta, YouTube, TikTok... to handle illegal content,” Director Le Quang Tu Do informed./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bao-ve-loi-ich-chinh-dang-cua-doanh-nghiep-truoc-lan-song-tin-gia-post1061333.vnp