Hanoi (VNA) – Abuse of social networks to post orshare false information will carry fines of 10 million – 20 million VND (430 –860 USD), according to a decree recently issued by Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc.

Decree 15/2020/ND-CP stipulates penalties foradministrative violations in the fields of postal services, telecommunications,radio frequency, information technology and electronic transactions.

It provides clearer regulations on socialnetwork users’ responsibility compared to Decree 174/2013/ND-CP promulgated in2013.

In the new decree, Article 101 regulates finesof between 10 million – 20 million VND for the abuse of social networks to postor share false, distorted or slanderous information that offends the reputationof agencies and organisations or the honour and dignity of individuals. It alsocovers the sharing of fabricated information that causes public concern orinduces violence and crime.

Similar fines will be imposed for spreadinginformation that advocates backward customs, superstition and obscenity, ordescribes dreadful acts of murder or accidents in detail.

Additionally, the fines will apply to posting orsharing inaccurate maps of Vietnam; advertising or promoting information aboutbanned goods and services; providing or sharing links to websites with bannedcontent; and posting or sharing press, literature and art works or publicationswithout copyright permission, works that haven’t been licensed to be published,or those that have been banned or revoked.

Meanwhile, the disclosure of informationclassified as State secrets, personal secrets and others that are not seriousenough to face criminal punishment will face fines of between 20 million – 30million VND, according to the new decree./.