Fake news about the Covid-19 pandemic is dealt with as quickly as possible.

Người Đưa Tin•29/10/2023

Request that platforms block and remove harmful and malicious information.

Speaking at the online conference summarizing the work of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with localities on October 29, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam - Deputy Minister of Information and Communications (MIC), Head of the Communication Subcommittee, said:

When the Covid-19 pandemic began to break out (early 2020), the Ministry of Information and Communications stepped in, directly directing propaganda work and resolutely implementing the peak period of Covid-19 prevention and control with the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting an enemy," effectively disseminating information on urgent measures to prevent and control the epidemic according to Directives 15 and 16 of the Prime Minister;...

Timely identification and resolution of emerging issues, especially those related to people's lives; timely counter-arguments against distorted, provocative, and false information regarding the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic; regulation of information in the press and on the internet; implementation of a people-to-people communication strategy, ensuring that the people know, understand, trust, follow, and participate.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, misinformation and fake news about the Covid-19 pandemic are being handled as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Fake news spreads rapidly, so it's necessary to publish refutations as quickly as possible and widely disseminate accurate information.

Event - Fake news about the Covid-19 pandemic is dealt with as quickly as possible. — Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam - Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, shared his views at the conference (Photo: VGP).

Thoroughly address the issue by identifying the source of fake news dissemination and imposing administrative penalties; prosecuting those who spread fake news criminally; and requiring content platforms to block and remove harmful and malicious information.

On June 4, 2021, the Ministry of Information and Communications established the National Center for COVID-19 Prevention and Control Technology (National Technology Center) with the participation of functional units under the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Health , as well as major Vietnamese technology enterprises and corporations.

The National Technology Center has the dedicated participation of nearly 60 government officials and the collaborative involvement of nearly 1,000 experts, programmers, and technicians from Vietnamese technology companies.

The Ministry of Information and Communications developed and deployed a unified technology application of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control; directed telecommunications enterprises to install notification sounds and send promotional messages about epidemic prevention and control to subscribers in some provinces and cities; received, processed, and responded to public feedback through call centers; and promoted the deployment of mobile networks to serve online teaching and learning.

A precious dose of "spiritual well-being".

During the first three waves of the pandemic, the press closely followed the disease situation and the directives of the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee, and relevant agencies to proactively provide information and disseminate news.

During the fourth wave of the pandemic, the press provided timely, rapid, and accurate information on disease prevention and control; strongly disseminated the appeal of the General Secretary and President; the directives and measures of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Head of the National Steering Committee; and the disease prevention and control efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities, contributing to the rapid transmission of the message about the efforts to achieve the "dual goal" of both preventing and controlling the disease.

Ensuring the well-being of the people while simultaneously restoring and developing the socio-economic sector, building trust and consensus among the people; guiding and disseminating information to the public about disease prevention measures, contact tracing, containment, isolation, and treatment to quickly suppress the epidemic.

Electronic media outlets have published 2,286,883 news articles related to epidemic prevention and control (from January 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023). Over the past three years, radio and television stations have produced and broadcast approximately 880,000 radio programs, totaling over 2,350,000 minutes; and over 940,000 television programs, totaling over 2,570,000 minutes. Approximately 1,300,000 programs have been uploaded to the websites, Facebook fan pages, and YouTube channels of radio and television stations to increase reach and attract more listeners and viewers.

Foreign press agencies have published and broadcast news, articles, and programs in 13 languages (including Vietnamese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, Lao, Thai, Cambodian, and Indonesian) about regulations and policies on epidemic prevention and control; guidance and practical implementation of epidemic prevention and control in localities; social welfare work and ensuring the lives of people in quarantined areas... affirming the efforts of the Vietnamese Government and people in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic to foreigners in Vietnam, Vietnamese people abroad, and the international community.

The media outlets published and broadcast many excellent, high-quality articles with timeless value for people to read, listen to, and watch while staying at home during social distancing, serving as a form of "spiritual solace."

Event - Fake news about the Covid-19 pandemic was dealt with most quickly (Figure 2). — Continuing to deploy and develop information technology applications to serve epidemic prevention and control (Photo: Huu Thang).

When fighting the pandemic and developing the economy must go hand in hand, the Government and the National Assembly stand alongside businesses in the spirit of " thinking honestly, speaking honestly, acting honestly, achieving real results, and ensuring that the people and businesses truly benefit ."

When determining the shift in the fight against the pandemic, from "Zero Covid" to "living with Covid," many heartfelt solutions, proposals, and recommendations were discussed, focusing on how to effectively "live with" Covid and adapt safely to the new normal; continuing to concentrate on preventing, repelling, and ultimately controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, avoiding health, economic, and social crises, etc.

In addition, telecommunications companies have leveraged their strengths and implemented many free measures and programs to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Public Security have agreed to implement the following: Connecting COVID-19 prevention and control technology platforms with the population database to verify user information; unifying a single health declaration form for declaration and travel; and unifying a single QR code for use across all platforms, systems, and software.

Over the past three years, the Ministry of Information and Communications, together with Vietnamese digital technology companies such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT, BKAV, CMC, Sovico, etc., has developed 14 groups of technology platforms and tools for epidemic prevention and control, with over 20 different applications.

Regarding future tasks and solutions, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam stated that the Ministry of Information and Communications will closely adhere to the viewpoints and directives of the Government and the Prime Minister, coordinating closely with ministries, sectors, and localities to maintain guidance and direction for press and media agencies and grassroots information systems to continue strengthening information dissemination to create social consensus after the transition of Covid-19 from a Group A infectious disease to a Group B infectious disease;

Directing and guiding the press and media to combat and refute false and hostile viewpoints, prevent harmful and toxic information, fake news, and unverified information; and strictly dealing with false and unverified information.

Strengthen disease prevention communication to raise awareness and change people's behavior in protecting their own health, their families' health, and the community's health, and in getting vaccinated. Continue to deploy and develop information technology applications to serve disease prevention and control .

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