Quang Minh and MC Van Hugo will be fined for advertising milk in violation of regulations.

Van Hugo - Photo 1.

Quang Minh - Van Hugo will be administratively fined 37.5 million VND and 70 million VND respectively - Photo: FBNV

The information was announced by Deputy Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen at the regular press conference of the first quarter of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the afternoon of April 21 in Hanoi.

Worked with Quang Minh, Van Hugo and will punish

Ms. Huyen said that the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information has coordinated to inspect, verify and handle the violations of Quang Minh and Van Hugo's advertising of Hiup milk.

During the verification process, the department determined that the two people advertised inconsistently with the product content that had been announced by the manufacturer to the health authorities.

That is the mistake of making exaggerated advertisements, advertisements that are not consistent with the documents that brands have provided to the authorities.

For example, Van Hugo advertised that drinking Hiup milk consistently for 3-6 months would increase height by 3-5cm. But the authorities determined that there was no document the brand sent along to prove that.

Quang Minh advertises ingredients in Hiup milk that are not actually in the ingredients announced by the manufacturer.

Van Hugo - Photo 2.

Deputy Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information shared at the press conference - Photo: T.DIEU

After the working session on April 18, the Radio Department made minutes of the working session and minutes of handling.

It is expected that Quang Minh will be fined 37.5 million VND for two acts: advertising inconsistent with one of the prescribed documents, violating the provisions of Point a, Clause 2, Article 52, Decree 38 on advertising, and advertising using the name of the unit, violating Point a, Clause 4, Article 52, Decree 38.

Van Hugo violated advertising regulations related to misleading advertising about product quality and uses, violating Clause 5, Article 34, Decree 38, expected to be fined 70 million VND.

Ms. Huyen said that through working with cases of advertising violations on social networks, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information found that the most common violation is advertising beyond its intended use, causing confusion about product quality.

According to her, artists and celebrities must learn from experience that when accepting any advertising contract, in addition to carefully checking the relevant licenses, they must also check whether the content they want them to advertise in the script goes beyond the uses, features, and ingredients.

Van Hugo - Photo 3.

Mr. Le Quang Tu Do (right) shared at the press conference - Photo: T.DIEU

Code of conduct is not enough, it has been institutionalized into regulations in many decrees.

Regarding the story of artists and celebrities advertising false information that has caused public outrage recently, Mr. Le Quang Tu Do - Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information - said that the Ministry of Information and Communications has developed a code of conduct on cyberspace and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also issued it. However, it is not mandatory and does not come with sanctions.

After a while, it was realized that the code of conduct did not have any sanctions, so the deterrent effect was very low.

Therefore, the Ministry of Information and Communications has institutionalized some contents of the code of conduct into some regulations in Decree 147 on management, provision and use of internet services and electronic information.

It has also proposed to institutionalize some contents of the code of conduct into the draft revised Law on Advertising to be submitted to the National Assembly for promulgation next May. It is expected to continue to institutionalize some contents of this code of conduct in the revised Decree 144, regulating performing arts activities.

In addition, by the end of 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will issue regulations restricting the appearance of images of celebrities violating the code of conduct in the press, on stage, and in cyberspace.

However, in the first few months of this year, no cases have been implemented. But it is expected that in the near future, a pilot will be conducted, a few cases will be modeled, and it is very likely that the artist involved in false advertising will be involved.

Mr. Tu Do added that artists and celebrities who violate the law and advertise falsely must also be punished according to the law like any other citizen.

There are currently no specific penalties for artists who violate the rules.

However, it is likely that the upcoming revised Advertising Law, which is about to be issued for the first time, will add some regulations related to celebrities. This content has been included in the draft but is still waiting for the National Assembly to approve.

Mr. Tu Do shared that in the process of handling artists and KOLs working with the department, their awareness of advertising was very weak. They accepted advertising contracts indiscriminately, without caring whether the content given was correct or not, which could easily lead to violations of the law.

The most unfortunate and "heartbreaking" case is probably Quang Linh Vlog.

Quang Minh and MC Van Hugo will be fined for advertising milk in violation of regulations - Photo 6.

Director of the Department of Performing Arts Nguyen Xuan Bac shared at the press conference - Photo: T.DIEU

Why have artists not been punished for false advertising?

Regarding the fact that some artists advertise falsely but there is no information about punishment, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information has not yet responded.

People's Artist Xuan Bac - Director of the Department of Performing Arts gave a general answer, saying that the Department of Performing Arts's position has always been that anyone, including artists who violate the law, must be punished according to regulations.

There are regulations and laws to regulate wrongdoings. Whoever violates where and to what extent will be dealt with at that level. If there is fraud, selling fake goods... must bear criminal responsibility.

"Whether an artist, KOL, celebrity, or anyone else, everyone must be responsible before the law like an ordinary citizen," Mr. Xuan Bac emphasized.