Illustration – Source: SGGP
The issuance of the Code of Conduct on social networks aims to create conditions for the healthy development of social networks in Vietnam, ensuring personal freedom, business freedom, and non-discrimination of service providers at home and abroad, under standards, practices and international treaties to which Vietnam has acceded, at the same time, building ethical standards on behavior on social networks, educating awareness, creating positive habits in the behavior of users on social networks, contributing to building a safe environment and healthy network in Vietnam.
The Code of Conduct on social networks consists of 3 chapters with 9 articles, and is applied to individuals and organizations on social networks and applies to 3 groups of subjects: State agencies, officials, civil servants, public employees and employees in state agencies using social networks; other organizations and individuals using social networks; social network service provider in Vietnam.
General Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct applies to all target groups. Specifically:
Respect and compliance with the law: Complying with Vietnamese laws, respecting the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.
Healthy: Behavior and conduct on social networks are consistent with the moral values, culture and fine traditions of the Vietnamese nation.
Information Safety and Security: Comply with regulations and guidelines on information safety and security.
Responsibility: Take responsibility for acts and behaviors on social networks; coordinate with functional agencies to handle acts and information content that violate the law.
Code of conduct for organizations and individuals
Learning and complying with the terms of use of the social network service provider before registering, participating in a social network.
It is recommended to use the full name, personal real name, official name of the organization or agency and register with the service provider to authenticate the nickname, website address, and contact point when joining and using the social network.
Taking measures to self-manage, secure social network accounts and quickly notify authorities and service providers when an organization’s or individual’s account is out of control, is faked, taking advantage and using it for unhealthy purposes, affecting national security and social order and safety, affecting the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals.
Sharing information from official, reliable sources
Having acts and behavior under the moral, cultural and traditional values of the Vietnamese nation; do not use hateful words, incite violence, and discriminate against regions, gender, or religion.
Do not post content that violates the law, information that offends honor and dignity, affecting the legitimate rights and interests of other organizations and individuals; use offensive language, violate fine customs and traditions; spreading fake news, false news; advertising, trading in illegal services… causing irritation in public opinion, affecting social order and safety.
Encouraging the use of social networks to communicate and promote the country – people, good culture of Vietnam, sharing positive information, good examples of good people and good deeds.
Mobilizing family members, friends, and people around them to participate in education and protect children and minors to use social networks safely and healthily.
Code of Conduct for cadres, civil servants, public employees and employees in state agencies
Cadres, civil servants, public employees and employees in state agencies shall comply with the provisions of this Code of Conduct for organizations and individuals.
Complying with regulations of agencies and organizations on providing information on social networks
Notifying the governing bodies for timely handling, reply and settlement when there are conflicting opinions, information violating the law related to the functions, tasks, powers, field of management of cadres, civil servants, public employees and employees.
Code of Conduct for government agencies
Implementing the content prescribed for agencies and organizations according to the Code of Conduct for organizations and individuals of this Code.
Taking responsibility for managing and securing social network accounts and promptly notifying service providers when an agency or organization’s account is out of control or is tampered with.
Providing information on social networks synchronously and consistently with information already provided on other mainstream media.
It is advised to respond to comments on social networks on issues related to the functions, tasks and powers of your agency or organization.
Code of Conduct for Social Networking Service Providers
Clearly stating the terms of service, including all rights and obligations of service providers and users
Promulgating and publicizing measures to detect, notify and coordinate with functional agencies to handle, prevent and remove information that violates copyright and the law.
When receiving a notice requesting the removal of copyright-infringing or law-breaking information by competent authorities, the social network service provider shall coordinate with organizations and individuals using social networks to handle according to the provisions of Vietnamese law.
Guiding users to use social networks, supporting and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of “weak people” in society (the poor, ethnic minorities, children, minors, people with disabilities) …) safe and healthy use of social networks to avoid mental exploitation, abuse and violence on social networks; taking measures to ensure the safety and healthy development of children and minors on social networks following Vietnamese law.
Respecting the user’s right to information protection, do not collect personal information and provide service users’ information to third parties without the consent of the information owner.
Deployment and Implementation
Agencies and organizations, based on current legal documents and this Code of Conduct, implement and disseminate the contents of the Code under their functions, tasks, powers and specific characteristics, with emphasis on ensuring the safety and health of the “weak people” when using social networks.
Users and social network service providers are encouraged to fully implement the contents of the Code and communicate and widely disseminate it to other organizations and individuals using social networks.
This Code is disseminated to all organizations and individuals participating in using social networks. In the course of implementation, if any problems arise, please report them to the Ministry of Information and Communications for generalization, research, consideration, and amendments accordingly.
Manh Hung