According to initial information, on July 26, social media, particularly Facebook, saw many individuals posting information, images, and videos linking a female employee of a company with a list of people who had contracted HIV from her, causing panic and outrage in public opinion.
Local authorities have intervened to clarify the situation. The Political Security Department of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Police summoned Ms. Nguyen Thi N. (born 1986), residing in Tuc Duyen Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, for using her personal Facebook account to post indecent and false information about a female worker allegedly infecting many men with HIV.
This information included images of the female worker and a list of infected individuals. At the police station, Ms. N. admitted her wrongdoing in posting false information that defamed the reputation of organizations and individuals and voluntarily posted a correction on her Facebook.
The Thai Nguyen Provincial Police documented the case and issued a fine of 7.5 million VND to Ms. Nguyen Thi N for the act of “providing, sharing false information, misrepresenting, slandering, and defaming the reputation of organizations, individuals, and their honor.”
In relation to the incident, the company representative sent a document to the Department of Health confirming that the female worker rumored in the social media posts is not an employee of the company. The list of people infected with HIV is also not employees and has no relation to the company’s staff, and they requested relevant authorities to verify and handle those spreading false information that negatively affects the company’s image, as well as the dignity of its employees.
The female employee who was falsely rumored has also reported the incident to the police, accusing the defamation of her honor and dignity. Currently, the authorities in Thai Nguyen continue to investigate and expand their inquiry, especially regarding the source of the false information dissemination for legal action.