Working Together to Clean Up the Online Environment (Final Article)

In late October 2025, the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) was successfully signed, placing Vietnam at the center of this historic legal process in the field of global cybersecurity. One of the key aspects of the Hanoi Convention is the affirmation of national sovereignty in cyberspace and the responsibility for international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime, coupled with the requirement to ensure that fundamental human rights in cyberspace are not hindered, in line with the nation's international commitments on human rights.

Báo Công an Nhân dân•22/05/2026

Creating a "personnel trend" to gain likes and undermine the regime (Part 1)

Fight strongly against cyber violations and crimes.

With the development of current technology, harmful information is created and disseminated at a rapid pace, negatively impacting political and social life, national sovereignty in cyberspace, and has become a global problem and a challenge for all countries. In this context, what should we do to help cyber users avoid the traps of cybercrime and harmful information?

Chung tay làm sạch môi trường mạng (bài cuối) -0 — People's Artist Xuan Bac, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, shared this at the "KOL Summit 2025" conference.

Observations from reality show that the main perpetrators of producing and disseminating malicious and toxic information are exiled reactionary elements, centers of ideological sabotage, overseas media outlets; individuals dissatisfied with the regime, new reactionary elements, individuals who exploit religious and ethnic issues to undermine national security, or Party members and officials exhibiting signs of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation"...

Some young people with limited political awareness can also be exploited to become tools for spreading harmful and toxic information. Prominent anti-government figures abroad such as Nguyen Van Dai (Germany), Le Trung Khoa (Germany), Hoang Van Dung (USA)...; exiled reactionary organizations: "Viet Tan", "Provisional National Government of Vietnam", "BPSOS"...; and ideological sabotage centers: the Vietnamese language sections of RFA, RFI, BBC, VOA... continuously produce and disseminate harmful and toxic information.

Over the past period, authorities have neutralized and removed tens of thousands of subversive news articles and posts; monitored groups, channels, and information pages with strong subversive activities... Judicial bodies have investigated, prosecuted, and tried a number of individuals and organizations involved in subversive activities, such as: On November 13, 2024, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced Duong Van Thai (owner of the Facebook account Thai Van Duong) to 12 years in prison and 3 years of probation in the case of "making, possessing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, or items aimed at undermining the State"; on September 30, 2025, the Supreme People's Procuracy issued an indictment prosecuting 5 defendants in the "Provisional National Government of Vietnam" organization for the crimes of "Terrorism aimed at overthrowing the people's government" and "Activities aimed at overthrowing the people's government". Currently, all five suspects, Dao Minh Quan, Pham Lisa, Huynh Thi Tham, Dao Kim Quang, and Lam Ai Hue, are wanted by the Security Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security .

According to representatives from the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (ANM&PCTP SDCNC) of the Ministry of Public Security, fake news and malicious information are no longer isolated media phenomena but have become a systemic risk, capable of eroding ideological foundations, trust, and social stability. The core weakness today is the "information lag" between dissemination and verification, between identification and action. Therefore, the approach needs to shift radically—from a passive response model to a proactive governance model, from handling individual incidents to a risk management architecture encompassing the entire information ecosystem.

An effective solution framework requires synchronized coordination across the entire political system, especially among the four core forces: Public Security, Military, Propaganda, and Culture, Sports, and Tourism. These forces must integrate four strategic pillars: Legal and governance; technology and engineering; social and media risk management; and international cooperation and platform coordination. With a "multi-layered, multi-tiered, and measurable" architecture, the cybersecurity force will continue to play a core, leading, and guiding role in the system, aiming to shorten information latency, target dissemination infrastructure, enhance social immunity, and firmly protect national security in the digital age.

For citizens, when encountering fake or malicious news, they should: Be vigilant, analyze and evaluate the content of the information, and cross-check it on official media outlets. For content that is inflammatory or subversive, they should report it to the authorities for verification and action.

From his perspective, Dr. Nhi Le, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Magazine, shared his methods for combating and refuting false and hostile viewpoints, especially in the current context. He cited the example of subversive information on social media that even includes misspelled names. Combating and refuting requires skill and the ability to categorize issues in order to carefully consider what to write and where to publish it.

He also shared his personal experience of having an article reach 5 million views and thousands of comments in a single month. He emphasized that when putting pen to paper, one must clearly define, "I am writing for my compatriots"... With the upcoming 14th Party Congress, the press agencies of the People's Public Security and People's Army, which have always been at the forefront of combating false and hostile viewpoints, need to cooperate to create a unified force, forming an official voice with legal and ethical validity.

Mainstream journalism - "A haven of trust"

According to journalist Le Quoc Minh, Central Committee member, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, fake news and misinformation are becoming a leading global risk, spreading rapidly through social media and short videos. Fake news is becoming more sophisticated thanks to AI-generated technology (deepfakes, fabricated statements, fabricated evidence, accelerated dissemination, and lower production costs). Fake news often "gets ahead" by using sensational headlines, appealing to emotions, and creating herd mentality.

Social media algorithms prioritize controversial content, easily creating an echo chamber and distorting perceptions. When official information is delayed, misinformation easily takes over. Fake news, malicious and false information about the Party and State's policies and guidelines, about high-ranking leaders (especially before important political events), and misinformation about organizations, businesspeople, and individuals are rampant. Numerous celebrities, both abroad and in Vietnam, have been impersonated using deepfakes for fraudulent purposes, and a trend of impersonating journalists is emerging.

Regarding global trends, journalist Le Quoc Minh argues that the shift in news consumption towards social media, videos, and news aggregation apps has left traditional journalism struggling to reach its full potential. Users both favor influencers/creators for their reporting and are concerned that they are a source of misinformation; 58% of the public find it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood online. AI is amplifying the "fake news industry," with text, images, audio, and video being mass-produced easily and cheaply. What solutions are there to address and prevent fake news in Vietnam in the current context?

Journalist Le Quoc Minh argues that it is necessary to strengthen the removal of infringing content and monitor platforms and media outlets to raise awareness of fake news and promote digital skills education for the community. Vietnam affirms its global priority in combating cybercrime, hosting the signing of the UN Convention on Cybercrime in Hanoi (Hanoi Convention), demonstrating its international commitment.

The role of mainstream journalism in the fight against fake news is demonstrated by: strengthening its role as a "haven of trust," becoming a place where the public can verify the truth, prioritizing investigative, analytical, and solution-oriented content instead of producing algorithm-driven content. Applying technology: big data analysis, deepfake detection tools, multi-tiered verification processes; deploying multi-platform, short, fast, but accurate products.

The key solution is to improve content quality; prioritize data-driven journalism with visual graphics and open-source verification to "showcase evidence"; shift from one-way propaganda to explaining policies, engaging in public dialogue, and providing timely Q&A; and organize regular features on "identifying, dissecting, and guiding digital skills" for the public.

Enhancing a multi-platform presence is demonstrated through optimizing concise content for social media, podcasts, and short videos, synchronizing messages, and diversifying storytelling formats. AI and NLP technologies are being applied to detect misinformation trends early, track keywords, and identify public opinion "hot spots." While fake news is escalating thanks to AI and social media ecosystems, mainstream journalism has the opportunity to reaffirm its role by investing in and verifying information, technology, and products that prioritize reader trust.

Leveraging the role of KOLs in disseminating positive information.

In the era of digital transformation, cyberspace has become a crucial ideological battleground, where information spreads rapidly and profoundly impacts social awareness and behavior. Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) are emerging as a new force capable of shaping public opinion, spreading positive values, and contributing to the protection of the Party's ideological foundations.

When Vietnam chaired the signing of the Hanoi Convention, the role of KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) was further recognized in the task of combating fake news and protecting sovereignty in cyberspace, as stipulated in Resolution 52-NQ/TW. A new trend shows that KOLs are shifting from commercial promotion to social and political inspiration, participating in community campaigns, and spreading positive information.

Lieutenant Colonel Duong Van Toan (writer Duong Binh Nguyen), Head of the Special Programs Department, ANTV Television, said that in the digital age, KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) play a bridging role between official information and the public. With their approachable style, lively language, and ability to evoke emotions, they help messages from authorities and the Party spread more easily.

At the KOL Summit 2025, organized by the National Cybersecurity Association and the Cybersecurity and Crime Prevention Department of the Ministry of Public Security in August 2025, KOLs participating in the "Influencer Trust" program and the Alliance of Trust contributed to the dissemination of positive information. According to the Cybersecurity and Crime Prevention Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the rate of young people accessing official information increased by 40% through short videos, memes, and infographics.

KOLs also act as a "media vaccine" in the fight against fake news and misinformation. They proactively disseminate verified content, encourage healthy criticism, and guide public opinion positively. KOLs are also a "soft force" on the ideological front, using their personal prestige and influence to strengthen national values and protect the Party's ideological foundation. The Ministry of Public Security's 2025 Cybersecurity Report noted that the participation of KOLs helps reduce the negative impact of fake news on sensitive events by 25%.

Besides the positive influence of KOLs in the fight against fake news and harmful content, Lieutenant Colonel Duong Van Toan also pointed out the challenges and risks in the current complex cybersecurity landscape. These include a segment of KOLs lacking political orientation and social responsibility awareness, and chasing trends to increase interaction. The 2025 Cybersecurity Report indicated that approximately 15% of KOLs were reported for sharing unverified content, including cases where it was exploited to distort politics and violate the 2018 Cybersecurity Law. Furthermore, the management and guidance of KOL activities by relevant agencies lack coordination...

To enhance the role of KOLs, it is necessary to build a network of legitimate KOLs with clear ideological orientations; strengthen training in political awareness and communication skills; establish a two-way monitoring mechanism between KOLs, management agencies, and digital platforms; and honor and protect active KOLs through reward mechanisms and support for content production.

With the efforts of state management agencies, the national cybersecurity force, the press, KOLs, and especially the unity of the people and the support of science and technology, legal barriers, fake news, and malicious information will soon be exposed and pushed back. Subversive activities will fail, and our Party will have a successful Congress, opening a new chapter for the country's development.