After the images of the Fanpage attributed to YouTuber Duy Nến (Trần Văn Duy) were cited by VTV as evidence of an individual spreading false information about the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cybersecurity Police Department and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of Hanoi City quickly verified the information about the individual posting the news, while coordinating with relevant parties to investigate the case.
As a result, it was discovered that Duy Nến’s Facebook page “Hà Nội Phố” had posted a video titled “Hà Nội phố thông thoáng trong ngày đầu phong tỏa” (Hanoi Streets Clear on the First Day of Lockdown). This video was uploaded on May 4 and garnered many views on YouTube, likes, and comments on Facebook. Although this video has now been removed from the Fanpage, it has caused confusion among the public and difficulties for the government’s pandemic prevention efforts.
In response to harsh feedback from viewers, YouTuber Duy Nến later changed the term “lockdown” to “pandemic control” in his social media posts. However, he did not correct the information that had already been posted to his followers.
During the verification process, while working with the investigative agency, Trần Văn Duy (born 1982; residing in Hoàng Mai, Hanoi) admitted to the investigative agency that he had posted false information and committed not to post or share any false information on social media.
This morning (May 10), the Hanoi City Police coordinated with the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications to issue a decision fining YouTuber Duy Nến 12.5 million VND for posting false information on social media Facebook related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Specifically:
According to Clause 4, Article 20 of Decree No. 72/2013/ND-CP dated July 15, 2013, by the Government managing, providing, and using Internet services and information online: “Personal electronic information pages are those established by individuals through the use of social networking services to provide and exchange information of that individual, not representing any organization or individual and not providing aggregated information.”
The Facebook account “Hà Nội Phố” is a personal electronic information page established by Mr. Trần Văn Duy through the use of Facebook to provide and share information. According to the above regulation, Mr. Duy is only allowed to post personal information; however, Mr. Trần Văn Duy has posted on the Facebook account “Hà Nội Phố” information about Hanoi’s cuisine and information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on Point a, Clause 3, Article 99 of Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP dated February 3, 2020, by the Government regulating the administrative penalties in the fields of postal services, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology, and electronic transactions, the Inspectorate of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications has imposed a fine of 12.5 million VND on Mr. Trần Văn Duy for his administrative violations. Remedial measures: Required to remove the violating information (Mr. Duy has complied with the removal of the information).
Decision No. 53/QĐ-XPVPHC
