Completely dismantle illegal website systems and change people's perceptions.

VTV.vn - Authorities are aggressively cracking down on and expanding investigations to thoroughly investigate illegal website systems in order to severely punish violations of online copyright.

Copyright infringement on the internet is becoming increasingly complex with increasingly sophisticated methods. In fact, immediately after the illegal website "Xoi Lac TV" was taken down, numerous other websites bearing the same brand name but with altered domain names (letters or numbers) quickly reappeared.

Similarly, when the "Cà Khịa" channel was prosecuted by authorities, a series of other fake "Cà Khịa" pages quickly sprung up with identical operating methods. In reality, these are all pirated websites created after the old system was discovered and shut down.

Violators often exploit familiar website names, employing various Google search optimization techniques to create similar fake websites, then aggressively promoting them with advertisements, leading many users to mistakenly access them. A notable common feature of these pirated websites is that they all insert advertisements and link directly to online sports betting sites.

This group constantly changes domain names, servers, or switches to other social media platforms to maintain anonymity; when one group is apprehended, another immediately steps in to replace them.

In response to this situation, the first solution adopted by authorities is to remove, hide, or disable access to infringing information, content, accounts, websites, applications, or internet addresses related to the infringement, while simultaneously implementing technical measures to trace the server address.

Captain Nguyen Duc Trung, an officer from the Criminal Police Department of Hung Yen Provincial Police, said that newly emerging illegal websites often change their interfaces, use different commenting systems, and constantly change access links; therefore, the police force is actively seeking ways to completely prevent these fraudulent systems.

Beyond just illegal broadcasting, Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Head of the Research, Consulting, Technology Development and International Cooperation Department of the National Cybersecurity Association, issued a dangerous warning, stating that cracked software has been modified by malicious actors to embed malware, even inserting malicious code capable of connecting to remote servers to steal users' confidential personal information.

According to information from the police, although the servers of these pirated websites are often located abroad, the payment for server rentals and the direct operation of these copyright-infringing websites are entirely handled by Vietnamese individuals.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Huong Khue, Deputy Head of Department 3, Criminal Investigation Department for Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling under the Ministry of Public Security, stated that the decisive factor in these cases is the act of illegally profiting and causing serious damage to rights holders.

Although coordination with rights holders still faces some difficulties and obstacles, the investigating agency is focusing on proving the flow of illicit gains through various channels, using judicial assistance and coordinating with Interpol to clarify the activities of the suspects through credit institutions and the international consumer system.

In reality, a blocked domain name can be replaced with a new one by infringing parties within just a few hours. Therefore, if we only address the "symptoms" by shutting down copyright-infringing websites, this fight will never end.

Currently, authorities are expanding their investigation into the entire operating system, financial sources, and related criminal activities such as organizing online gambling and gambling; this means that the criminal penalties for violators in the future will be much more severe.

How can we bring about a fundamental change in perceptions about copyright?

The core objective of this crackdown is to focus on strictly addressing copyright infringements related to films, music , video games, and other acts of industrial property infringement and counterfeit goods; while ensuring that the number of detected and processed cases increases by at least 20% compared to the same period in May 2025.

In reality, addressing copyright infringement in the fields of films, music, and video games doesn't have a significant direct impact on users; however, for application software—essential tools for work and daily life—the impact and influence are entirely different.

The problem of preventing software piracy, which has persisted for over 20 years, poses a major question for regulators: how can we prevent consumers from prioritizing pirated products?

In today's online environment, it takes less than 10 seconds for a well-known pirated domain to be taken down, and search engines like Google immediately suggest a new replacement website, constantly exposing users to the obvious temptation of using pirated products.

To find compelling reasons for users to abandon the habit of clicking on pirated links, it's necessary to objectively assess the strengths of each sector. In the software field, creators and large technology corporations possess many powerful tools to both prevent infringement and attract users to choose licensed products by building an inseparable ecosystem of utilities, coupled with extremely sophisticated technical barriers to make it difficult for pirated products.

Conversely, in the entertainment, sports, or music sectors, content providers do not possess that absolute technological power; when people watch a pirated movie or a pirated football match, their televisions or phones cannot be damaged immediately.

Many people even proactively create a separate secondary email account solely for registering and accessing pirated services to ensure the safety of their personal information. The general mindset of the majority of users is still to prioritize what is easy, convenient, and free; and when accessing pirated content is too easy, it becomes very difficult to persuade them to voluntarily pay for legitimate platforms.

To thoroughly address the copyright issue, the conventional process must rely on three solid pillars: tightening management; improving the quality and experience of services; and finally, educating the community about copyright awareness.

However, judging from real-world data and the operation of the digital ecosystem, educating "community awareness" should be the last step, rather than simply appealing to people's self-discipline when illegal activities are still so easily available online.

Instead of relying on initial awareness, authorities should prioritize strong measures to eliminate and block the "easy" access to smuggled goods first, thereby reshaping the long-term and sustainable consumer behavior of society as a whole.

Gradually changing users' perceptions of digital copyright.

Having chosen to use cracked software due to insufficient funds to pay for legitimate licenses, many consumers share that to avoid being detected and having their software blocked by providers, they always have to use it in a state of anxiety and apprehension.

Many people are forced to frequently disconnect from the internet before opening applications, disable system updates, actively block software from connecting to servers, or constantly try to reinstall everything from scratch whenever they encounter activation errors.

Mr. Truong Anh My from Hanoi reported that cracked software versions are very susceptible to viruses, do not receive bug fixes, and are completely unable to synchronize data to the cloud; many downloaded installation files are very large but ultimately cannot be operated.

Sharing a similar experience, Mr. Mai Trung Dung in Hanoi said that he had previously encountered a situation where his computer ran very slowly, then all his important files were lost, forcing him to reinstall the entire operating system.

The recent crackdown by authorities on numerous large-scale illegal broadcasting rings has created a significant ripple effect, forcing many websites that streamed pirated content and provided cracked software to proactively cease operations. This decisive action has helped many users gradually realize the importance of paying for legitimate copyrighted material.

Mr. Mai Trung Dung acknowledged that when switching to the paid version, users no longer have to worry about copyright infringement or account suspension, and can fully experience all the advanced features that pirated versions can never offer.

Mr. Truong Anh My also shared that since starting his job, he has proactively purchased software licenses to support his work, ensuring the system is continuously updated, easily synchronizing data to the cloud, and facilitating effective teamwork.

For this shift in awareness to be accompanied by serious compliance, the legal framework in the coming period will undergo a significant shift towards "joint liability," requiring each individual to bear legal responsibility for their actions in cyberspace.

Lawyer Dang Van Cuong, Head of Chinh Phap Law Office, Hanoi Bar Association, analyzed that although Vietnam currently lacks specific sanctions for end users, he is confident that sanctions for complicity and aiding in copyright infringement will soon be implemented. He believes that in advanced countries like Europe, administrative penalties for this offense can reach several thousand dollars.

From a business perspective, changing perceptions and mindsets regarding intellectual property protection is essential as Vietnam is rapidly shifting towards a creative economy.

Ms. Tran My An, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Corporation, stated that if copyright is not respected, every invention and innovation of ours is easily infringed upon; this is a necessary shift as Vietnam focuses on development based on innovation.

Changing individual perceptions of copyright is a crucial turning point, contributing to a solid foundation for the national creative economy. It's clear that addressing copyright infringement isn't just a matter for government agencies, technology companies, or content owners; it's fundamentally about the awareness of users themselves.

As long as users continue to accept free viewing, free downloading, or the use of cracked software as a matter of course, pirated websites and copyright infringement rings will continue to thrive and be used.

Conversely, when each individual understands that paying for copyright is not simply buying a product, but rather paying for intellectual property, creative labor, and their own safety, then the digital environment will truly be healthy and sustainable, contributing to the creation of an innovative and creative Vietnamese economy.

Source: https://vtv.vn/triet-pha-tan-goc-cac-he-thong-website-lau-thay-doi-nhan-thuc-cua-nguoi-dan-10026052620531376.htm