Preventing it at the source

Decree 87/2026 on administrative penalties for violations in the fields of culture and advertising, effective from May 15th, is considered a necessary adjustment in the context of a rapidly developing but uncontrolled advertising market, especially in the digital environment. A notable point is that the decree specifies the violations and their corresponding penalties, rather than merely providing general guidelines.

Recently, many products such as dietary supplements, cosmetics, and weight-loss drugs have been advertised with misleading claims like "complete cure," "elimination," and "100% effectiveness." Many advertisements also use images of doctors and experts or label products as "traditional remedies," "national secrets," or "absolutely natural" to appeal to consumers' psychology. These advertisements not only cause misunderstandings but also pose potential risks to the health and finances of buyers.

Including these behaviors under penalties shows that the regulatory agency has focused on the right "hot spots" in the market. When the line between correct and incorrect advertising is clearly defined, businesses are forced to change their approach and limit the exaggeration of product benefits. However, the effectiveness of the decree depends heavily on enforcement.

Currently, advertising primarily takes place on social media and e-commerce platforms – where information spreads rapidly and is difficult to control. If violations are only addressed after they occur, authorities will struggle to keep up with the reality. Therefore, close cooperation among platforms is needed to screen and moderate content from the outset.

The E-commerce Law 2025, effective from July 1, 2026, has added many important regulations. Sellers and livestreamers must provide truthful information; platforms must verify identity, store data, and have the right to refuse or terminate cooperation with violating accounts. Advertising content must conform to approved content. If the inspection and removal of infringing content are carried out rigorously, many false advertisements could be blocked from the outset.

From a market perspective, Decree 87 does not reduce the scale of advertising activities but creates a clearer filtering process. Businesses that rely on false advertising will find it difficult to survive as before, and may even be eliminated from the market. Conversely, businesses that operate honestly will have a better competitive advantage. With the restriction of exaggerated advertising tactics, businesses no longer have to compete with inflated information but can focus on product quality and brand reputation.

The impact on consumers is also clear. Previously, many people were swayed by exaggerated advertising, leading them to purchase products that didn't meet their expectations, wasting money and even affecting their health. With stricter advertising regulations, consumers will have access to more transparent information to make informed choices.

It is evident that Decree 87, along with the 2023 Law on Consumer Rights Protection and the 2025 Law on E-commerce, is creating an increasingly complete legal framework for the digital business environment. As the responsibilities of sellers, platforms, and regulatory agencies are more clearly defined, false advertising will gradually lose its foothold, giving way to a transparent and healthy competitive environment.

According to Le Tinh (NLDO)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/ngan-chan-tu-goc-post586786.html