HANOI (ANN/Viet Nam News) – Vietnam is set to enforce stricter regulations on social media platforms and news aggregator websites with the introduction of Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, which comes into effect on December 24. The decree aims to regulate livestreaming, content production, and revenue-generating activities to ensure transparency and compliance with national laws.
According to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, under the Ministry of Information and Communications, only social media platforms with official licences will be allowed to livestream or conduct monetized activities. Licensed platforms must embed identification codes linked to the licensing authority’s database, enabling better oversight.
The decree introduces specific measures to prevent news aggregator platforms from operating like news agencies. These platforms must delay posting aggregated content by at least one hour after the original source and cite information from at least three separate news outlets.
For aggregator websites linked to online newspapers, content production will be limited to specific fields, and linked articles must not exceed 50 per cent of their total monthly output.
To distinguish news aggregators from legitimate news agencies, the decree prohibits the use of domain names or titles that could mislead users into believing these platforms are official journalism outlets.
Social media platforms face new restrictions aimed at preventing them from mimicking traditional news outlets. The platforms are barred from organising user-generated posts into fixed sections or publishing content in formats such as investigative reports, interviews, or journalistic features.
Naming restrictions have also been introduced for social media channels, accounts, and community groups. Names resembling those of official news agencies will be prohibited to avoid user confusion.
Under the decree, users will be held accountable for all content they share, store, or transmit online. Violating content must be removed within 48 hours of receiving user complaints or within 24 hours upon request from regulatory authorities.
Livestreams must comply with the decree’s provisions, including taxation and payment regulations for revenue-generating activities.
The Ministry of Information and Communications has emphasised that the decree aims to ensure responsible operation of online platforms while maintaining a clear distinction between social media and licensed journalism.
“The government seeks to create a more transparent digital environment where platforms and users alike operate within the boundaries of national laws,” the ministry stated.
This move comes as Vietnam intensifies its efforts to regulate its growing digital ecosystem and curb misinformation while safeguarding public trust in legitimate news organisations.
