Maintaining the information and propaganda front in the face of the development of cross-border platforms

*National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks*

Ensuring flexibility and practicality

The draft of the Press Law (amended) presented by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung clearly stated the necessity of developing the Press Law (amended) to perfect legal regulations, institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies on the press; adjust and manage press activities in a timely and appropriate manner in the context of the strong and rapid development of science , technology and modern communications; and overcome limitations and inadequacies in current legal regulations on the press.

*Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh chaired the meeting.*

The draft Law consists of 4 Chapters and 50 Articles. Compared with the 2016 Press Law, the draft Law retains the content of 9 Articles; amends the content of 38 Articles; adds 3 new Articles, and removes 6 Articles.

The Draft Law stipulates framework issues, principled issues under the authority of the National Assembly, and frequently changing practical issues assigned to the Government, ministries, branches, and localities to ensure flexibility and suitability to reality.

The Draft Law also clearly defines the authority of the Provincial People's Committee responsible for state management of the press for local press agencies, resident agencies, representative offices, resident reporters in the locality and other activities as prescribed in this Law and implementing documents...

*Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung presented the draft Law on Press (amended)*

The Draft Law also adds provisions on the position of the press: "The press in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is revolutionary press..." to affirm the historical and revolutionary nature of the press, aiming at the goal of building and protecting the Fatherland, building a professional, humane, and modern press as set forth by the 13th Party Congress.

Building mechanisms and policies to develop digital technology platforms in the field of journalism

The review report presented by Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh stated that the Standing Committee of the Committee agreed with the necessity of amending the Press Law; at the same time, it requested the Government to continue researching, supplementing and perfecting the Submission, Policy Impact Assessment Report, Review Report of legal documents related to press activities, and draft documents guiding the implementation of the Law.

*Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Dac Vinh presented the inspection report.*

Regarding digital transformation in the field of journalism, the Standing Committee of the Committee proposed to continue to improve and supplement regulations in the direction of creating a legal corridor to build mechanisms and policies to encourage the development of domestic digital technology platforms, distribution of press information content; on the rights and legal responsibilities of journalists and press agencies when using artificial intelligence (AI) in press activities...

Commenting on the draft Law, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that the draft Law is an important propaganda tool of the Party and State and a forum for the people, with principles of ensuring feasibility, compatibility with digitalization, and encouraging the press economy. A streamlined organizational model increases the effectiveness of public opinion orientation, controls fake information operating in cyberspace, and protects national security. Encourages the press economy, reduces dependence on the budget; rights and responsibilities are balanced in freedom of speech and social responsibility.

The National Assembly Chairman suggested that, first , it is necessary to consider ensuring the consistency and feasibility of the legal system, especially the provisions of the draft Law with related laws; ensuring the requirements for strengthening the management and development of media and information forms on digital platforms. There must be an appropriate mechanism to develop revolutionary journalism, strengthen the presence of revolutionary journalism on social platforms, and maintain the information and propaganda front in the face of the development of cross-border platforms.

Second, continue to streamline the press and media system in the direction of streamlining, efficiency, effectiveness, and efficiency, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 18 and the revolution in restructuring the apparatus that has been successfully carried out at the Central and local government levels; strengthen the responsibility of governing bodies and leaders.

Third, there are effective solutions to rectify and strictly handle violations, especially violations in the online environment.

Fourth, it is necessary to do a good job of information and propaganda, create consensus and social trust, arouse the development aspirations of a strong and prosperous Vietnam, and encourage creative models and approaches, good people and good deeds.

Fifth, develop a key national press agency that plays a role in guiding information.

Regarding types of journalism (Article 3), the National Assembly Chairman noted that the use of the concept of press types must ensure consistency with specialized terminology about key media agencies and multimedia (clause, Article 16).

Regarding the specific financial mechanism, it is necessary to research and consider carefully, ensuring full basis on the contents related to the press economy; specific instructions are needed, creating favorable conditions for press agencies in the implementation process. Regarding press activities in cyberspace, it is necessary to ensure national sovereignty and information security.

Clause 1, Article 21 of the draft Law stipulates that press agencies operate in the form of public service units or public service units. The National Assembly Chairman said that there is a clear distinction between public service units and public service units. In particular, according to Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 60 dated June 21, 2021 of the Government on the financial autonomy mechanism of public service units, there is no distinction between public service units and public service units. Therefore, it is recommended to review carefully.

The draft decree guiding the implementation of the law will have a number of specific provisions related to scientific journals to promptly institutionalize Resolution 57 of the Party on breakthroughs in science, technology and national innovation development. However, according to the National Assembly Chairman, it is necessary to study the regulations on types of scientific journals in the draft Law to clearly define the legal status, nature of activities and specific issues related to scientific journals.

Concluding the discussion, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh stated that the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed with the policy of comprehensively amending the Press Law to continue institutionalizing the Party's viewpoints and policies; overcoming limitations and obstacles, handling issues arising in practice and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of the press.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly requested that the Government direct the study, reception, and completion of the draft Law dossier; the Standing Committee of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee complete the Verification Report to submit to the National Assembly at the 10th Session in accordance with regulations.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/giu-vung-mat-tran-thong-tin-tuyen-truoc-su-phat-trien-cua-cac-nen-tang-xuyen-bien-gioi-10389590.html