Creating a strict legal corridor for Vietnamese press in the digital environment

Cyberspace brings great opportunities but also poses great challenges to the press. The draft Law on Press (amended) is expected to create a legal framework suitable for the times.

The draft Law on Press (amended) is being consulted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with many important adjustments.

Delegates from Thai Binh province said that amending and supplementing the 2016 Press Law is inevitable to create a favorable legal corridor for the press to operate and develop, while at the same time overcoming current shortcomings and inadequacies.

Ensuring the principles of operation of Vietnamese press in cyberspace

Mr. Nguyen Ba Con, former Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of Thai Binh Provincial Party Committee (now the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department) said that the current Press Law issued since 2016 has been revealing many limitations and inadequacies in the face of the development of information technology and the rapid changes of the press, especially in cyberspace.

Journalism practice over the past 10 years has shown that many new problems have arisen, from managing misinformation and fake news to new forms of work for reporters and journalists.

Therefore, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Press Law is urgent to create a solid legal corridor, consistent with development trends, ensuring freedom of the press coupled with social responsibility, contributing to building a professional, humane, and modern revolutionary press.

Regarding press activities in cyberspace, Mr. Nguyen Ba Con said that Articles 31 and 32 of the draft Press Law (amended) have detailed regulations on press activities in cyberspace.

This demonstrates innovation in legal thinking, in line with practical needs; thereby creating conditions for press agencies to operate and develop.

These legal frameworks will contribute to solving the biggest challenge today, which is the control and management of official information in the digital environment; and provide specific regulations on the responsibilities of press agencies and journalists in censoring and controlling information before posting, especially sensitive information that can easily cause misunderstandings or have negative impacts on society.

Journalistic activities in cyberspace ensure international integration while also ensuring the principles of Vietnamese journalism and network safety and security.

In particular, Mr. Nguyen Ba Con highly appreciated the draft Law on Press (amended) which clearly states that it is strictly forbidden for general electronic information sites and social networks to self-produce, post and broadcast information like press agencies.

This is considered a strong solution to more closely manage information activities on cyberspace, especially in the context of fake news and false information that can spread quickly and cause unpredictable consequences for society.

Many general electronic information sites and social networks, although not licensed to operate press, tend to produce, edit and post information themselves like a press agency.

This creates many negative consequences such as information interference; facilitating fake news, untrue news, affecting the activities of official press agencies.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Con proposed to increase sanctions for violations if general electronic information sites and social networks self-produce, post and broadcast information like press agencies.

This helps protect readers from harmful information, ensuring a healthy and safe information environment in cyberspace.

Strengthening management of representative offices and resident reporters

Mr. Hoang Van Duyet, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thai Binh province, said that the draft Law on Press (amended) has approached many new issues in press activities as well as press leadership and management, especially the current strong trend of digital transformation.

Mr. Hoang Van Duyet, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thai Binh province, gave his opinion on the Draft Law on Press (amended). (Photo: The Duyet/VNA)

Over the past time, the actual activities of representative offices and resident reporters have vividly and comprehensively reflected current events, politics, economics, culture and local society.

However, in reality, the management of representative offices and resident reporters is still inadequate. One of the reasons is the lack of a clear mechanism and strict management between central press agencies and local authorities.

Clause 2, Article 21 of the draft Press Law (amended) stipulates that press agencies must notify the provincial People's Committee when setting up representative offices and appointing resident reporters. According to Mr. Hoang Van Duyet, this is not enough and will cause difficulties for localities in managing and supervising the activities of offices and resident reporters.

Mr. Hoang Van Duyet proposed that it is necessary to supplement and edit in the direction of having to register with the Provincial People's Committee to strengthen the management and supervision role of local authorities over the activities of offices and resident reporters to ensure a clean, healthy and legal press environment.

In addition, Clause 4, Article 31 of the draft Law stipulates that general electronic information sites and social networks using news and articles from press agencies must have an agreement with the press agency.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thai Binh province proposed to add that the general information websites and social networks using general information posted on the websites of Party organizations and State agencies must also have agreements with these agencies and organizations./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tao-hanh-lang-phap-ly-chat-che-cho-bao-chi-viet-nam-tren-moi-truong-so-post1042162.vnp