Effective application of digital technology to control counterfeit goods

In a short period of time, many cases of production and sale of fake milk, fake functional foods, fake cooking oil... have been discovered and handled by the authorities of many provinces and cities. Fraud in the production and sale of goods does not stop at fake milk boxes or poor quality functional foods but also essential products that can cause extremely serious consequences.

The market management team of Bao Thang district (Market Management Department of Lao Cai province (formerly)) checks imported powdered milk products at supermarkets in the area. Photo: Quoc Khanh/VNA

Faced with this reality, many opinions say that digital transformation with modern technology tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and big data (Big Data) helps analyze and identify unusual behaviors in buying and selling transactions to create a strict and safe control system, ensuring the legitimate rights of people and businesses, while contributing to improving the effectiveness of State management.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) said: The demand for consumption through e-commerce in Vietnam is increasing and the trading of counterfeit goods and commercial fraud on e-commerce is also increasing. Currently, up to 90% of counterfeit goods and goods that infringe on rights are consumed and sold on e-commerce platforms or social networks. Moreover, it is very difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit goods.

“One of the difficulties for market management forces in checking and handling violations of counterfeit goods and goods of unknown origin is that consumer demand through e-commerce is increasing while people's awareness of fighting counterfeit goods in this environment is still limited,” Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh emphasized.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department, shared that in order to effectively handle violations in the digital environment, it is necessary to build a shared database between departments and branches in the National Steering Committee 389 as well as localities.

“Hopefully, there will be a database that can be shared among sectors and localities so that the force can go there to search, read, learn, and use it for their work, then they will be more proactive. Currently, the force is likened to pushing a bicycle with a flat tire on the highway; without means, knowledge, and legal basis, how can they stop containers?”, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat expressed.

According to experts, the strong development of e-commerce also has certain consequences. Notably, counterfeit goods, fake goods, and goods that infringe intellectual property rights are abundant in the e-commerce environment, especially on social networks. Social networks are an unofficial e-commerce platform. Many subjects have taken advantage of the anonymity and lack of control of social network administrators to trade in counterfeit goods, fake goods, goods that infringe intellectual property rights, goods of unknown origin, and commit acts of commercial fraud. Commonly, such as creating livestream sales accounts, advertising products labeled as branded goods but in fact they are counterfeit goods. Taking advantage of fast delivery and collection policies to deliver smuggled goods, infringing goods....

To improve the effectiveness of the fight against counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, and commercial fraud in the coming time, especially violations in the field of e-commerce, representatives of many management agencies said that digital technology must be applied to handle violations in the digital environment.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Sinh - Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Protection (VATAP) said that after many years of research, VATAP has come up with a solution that is to provide QR codes for businesses to access product information using the VatapCheck system. In addition to scanning QR codes to trace origins, we have a digital anti-counterfeiting solution.

Furthermore, the application of digital transformation technology in anti-counterfeiting and traceability software is necessary. Therefore, these solutions demonstrate the responsibility of enterprises in producing and trading safe food and quality goods. At the same time, enterprises are encouraged to apply advanced technology solutions such as smart anti-counterfeiting stamps and blockchain (blockchain technology) in traceability to help consumers look up the entire process of production, transportation and distribution of products.

According to experts, one of the notable applications in the fight against counterfeit goods that countries around the world are effectively applying is using AI to analyze daily sales data. The AI system can review millions of sales transactions in just a few seconds, looking for suspicious signs about products or consumer behavior.

When abnormalities are detected, the AI system will issue warnings, helping authorities intervene promptly. The big data system also helps monitor and analyze people's consumption trends. By connecting to national databases, authorities can easily identify areas with high rates of counterfeit product consumption, thereby implementing strict inspection and monitoring campaigns.

In addition, Blockchain data is another important technology in preventing counterfeiting. Blockchain provides an immutable and transparent data system that helps track the production, distribution and consumption of each product. By simply scanning the QR code on the packaging, consumers can immediately look up the origin of the product, know the quality information and the production standards that the product has complied with. This not only helps increase consumer confidence, but also prevents fraudulent behavior.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Son, Head of the Da Nang Market Management Department, said that the department has just been assigned by the Steering Committee 57 of Da Nang to build an AI application to distinguish genuine and fake goods with the expectation that it will help consumers distinguish genuine and fake goods; increase the effectiveness in the fight against counterfeit goods and trade fraud.

According to Mr. Hoang Ninh, Deputy Director of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in the first 6 months of 2025, e-commerce platforms removed more than 33,000 products; closed 11,000 shops with violations related to counterfeit goods, fake goods, and goods infringing intellectual property rights.

Currently, the Department is advising the leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to submit to the Government the Law on E-commerce to better manage the e-commerce environment and strengthen inspection and handling of violations. In the coming time, the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy will also build databases. When building the Law on E-commerce, there will also be content requiring e-commerce platforms to report, this content the Department has included in the draft law.

According to VNA/Tin Tuc and Dan Toc Newspaper

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/ung-dung-hieu-qua-cong-nghe-so-de-kiem-soat-hang-gia-195921.htm