Setting Legal Boundaries for Celebrities

Previously, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism included regulations related to celebrities participating in advertising in the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Advertising Law to tighten advertising activities, protect consumer rights and more clearly define the responsibilities of violators.

We all know that recently, many famous people including artists, actors, and social media influencers have participated in advertising exaggerated or untrue effects of some products to deceive consumers. On social networks and in the press, many writers have angrily called this fraudulent and inhumane behavior. Some famous people have done whatever they could for money, and consumers, out of naive trust, have become "sheep" for famous people to "herd into the pen".

Infuriating, and somewhat exaggerated, but reflects the true nature of the problem. Advertising laws are not keeping up with the changes in life, leading to legal and ethical lines being easily crossed by many people.

In order to prevent this, in the draft law submitted to this session, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed that artists are not allowed to advertise products or services that they do not use or do not guarantee the quality. Artists are only allowed to advertise products or services that are consistent with their image and values, in order to protect consumers from false information.

At the discussion session of the draft law, in addition to the proposal to increase the fine level, many National Assembly deputies suggested reviewing and supplementing regulations on ethics, professional responsibility, and legal responsibility, especially for influential people.

The issue emphasized is, "it is recommended to increase the level of fines to ensure deterrence, contributing to protecting the lives, health, property and interests of consumers. At the same time, create a healthy and equal advertising environment. Along with that, it is necessary to review and supplement regulations on ethics, professional responsibility, legal responsibility, especially for influential people". And "in the case of advertising participants working in agencies and organizations, when violating advertising regulations, especially false advertising, the management agencies and organizations need to have a strict management mechanism. At the same time, it is necessary to amend internal operating regulations, specify professional ethics responsibilities when participating in advertising activities and clearly stipulate forms of sanctions. In addition, it is also necessary to consider the responsibility of the advertising management appraisal council to ensure that relevant agencies are responsible".

Some National Assembly members also cited very strict penalties in countries with developed advertising industries, such as South Korea, which prohibits disguised advertising on social networks, with a maximum fine of about VND8.7 billion. In 2022, the country also added a ban on artists being the face of alcohol brands to limit negative impacts on young people.

After the very serious consequences related to the false advertising of celebrities that negatively impacted society, the issue of advertising has received special attention with the desire to restore purity. The proposals of the drafting agency and the opinions of the National Assembly deputies on the draft law show that it is time to establish a new boundary with a much higher level of vigilance for celebrities. The draft law will continue to be discussed carefully before reaching a decision, in order to be able to harmonize those factors at the same time, ensuring the rights of consumers, the freedom of commerce and the creative freedom of artists.

After the brutal “stolen consumer trust,” consumers are being raised with hopes of a new legal effect.

Thai Minh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thiet-lap-lan-ranh-phap-ly-cho-nguoi-noi-tieng-248345.htm