Banning the press from describing criminal acts in detail has "distorted" the Vietnamese language.

On the morning of December 10th, the National Assembly passed the amended Press Law, which expands the scope of prohibited acts in the press and on social media channels of press agencies. The law will take effect from July 1st, 2026, with some provisions applying as early as January 1st, 2026.

Discriminatory information based on gender is strictly prohibited.

According to the new regulations, the press is strictly prohibited from publishing information that negatively impacts Vietnam's position, reputation, and image; or that harms Vietnam's foreign relations or international cooperation. Information that sows discord among ethnic groups, opposes the State, distorts history, or insults the nation, its leaders, or national heroes remains prohibited as under current law, but is regulated in more detail and categorized more clearly.

One notable point is that the list of prohibited activities has been expanded to include discriminatory behaviors. The law strictly prohibits information that incites hatred, gender discrimination; discrimination against people with disabilities or vulnerable groups; religious discrimination, insults religious beliefs, or division between religious and non-religious people. This regulation aims to ensure a journalistic environment that respects social diversity and avoids the negative impact of discriminatory content.

Furthermore, the press is prohibited from providing false information that harms organizations or individuals; from slandering or insulting honor and dignity; from inciting violence, spreading decadent lifestyles, or publishing information that causes public panic. Acts of insulting national heroes or insulting agencies, organizations, or individuals are also prohibited.

The law prohibits information that incites hatred and discrimination based on gender (Illustrative image: Hoang Trieu).

The crime was not described in detail.

The new regulations also state that the press is not allowed to meticulously describe obscene or criminal acts; nor is it permitted to detail acts of violence, depravity, or content that violates social moral standards. This regulation aims to prevent sensationalism and excessive depiction of sensitive events that could negatively impact readers' psychology.

For the first time, language issues have been included in the list of prohibited behaviors. Accordingly, the press is not allowed to use language that distorts the Vietnamese language, leading to misunderstandings of information content. This is a new regulation, reflecting the increasing use of slang, distorted characters, or language adapted from online trends, which can affect the standard of the Vietnamese language in the digital media environment.

The press is also prohibited from publishing images, audio, or documents from illegal sources; disclosing state secrets, personal secrets, or family secrets; or providing information contrary to regulations on the protection of secrets in the fields of national defense, security, and foreign affairs.

Protecting children and increasing accountability of the press on social media channels.

Another important aspect is the set of regulations related to children. The press is prohibited from publishing information that negatively impacts a child's normal development; information that could harm a child's mental, moral, or safety; or content that is inappropriate for their age and psychological development. This is a tightening measure aimed at increasing child protection in the context of the widespread influence of the press and social media.

All the prohibited acts in Article 8 apply not only to print newspapers, online newspapers, radio, and television, but also to "content channels of press agencies on social media" - a type of media recently codified in the amended Press Law.

This means that content posted on the fan pages, YouTube, TikTok, etc., of news organizations is considered journalistic product and must fully comply with legal regulations.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/thoi-su/cam-bao-chi-mieu-ta-ti-mi-hanh-vi-toi-ac-lam-bien-dang-tieng-viet-20251210154208688.htm