Vietnam Cracks Down on Influencers Violating Laws

Vietnam is intensifying its crackdown on prominent social media influencers engaged in illegal activities, signaling a robust enforcement of laws in the digital realm. During a regular government press conference held in Hanoi on September 3rd, officials from various ministries addressed pressing public concerns, including the prosecution of well-known Facebookers and TikTokers. Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan, Chief of the Office and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, detailed ongoing investigations. He revealed that in the case involving Bui Xuan Huan, alias Huan Hoa Hong, the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security has indicted five individuals on charges of "violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences" and "fraudulent appropriation of property." The "violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences" charge stems from business activities on the TikTok platform, where undeclared revenue is estimated to exceed 300 billion VND (approximately $12 million USD). This information has already been disseminated through public media and the Ministry of Public Security's official portal. The "fraudulent appropriation of property" charge represents a new development. Through expanded investigations, authorities discovered that Bui Xuan Huan allegedly exploited his social media influence, frequently posting on platforms like Facebook and Zalo content suggesting he possessed advance knowledge of daily lottery results. Based on this, numerous individuals transferred money to Bui Xuan Huan's personal accounts, seeking information on lottery numbers with a high probability of winning. However, when these individuals participated in lotteries based on the provided numbers and did not win, they were denied refunds, and the funds were appropriated by the accused. Based on complaints and denunciations from these individuals, the Investigation Police Agency has initiated a criminal case, indicted suspects, and is continuing its broad investigation. Regarding the case involving Le Van Phu, also known as Phu Le, the Investigation Police Agency of the Hanoi City Police has indicted 13 individuals on four charges: violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences; illegal issuance and trading of invoices and documents for state budget contributions; customer deception; and fraudulent appropriation of property. To date, 10 individuals, including Le Van Phu, have been indicted for offenses related to accounting and invoices, with initial findings indicating a total state tax loss exceeding 6.4 billion VND (approximately $250,000 USD). Additionally, two individuals, including Nguyen Thi Huong, alias "Teacher Huong," have been indicted for customer deception, with illicit profits estimated at over 11 billion VND (approximately $430,000 USD). One individual has been indicted for fraudulent appropriation of property, a charge that emerged during the ongoing investigation. In Hai Phong, Nguyen Thi Nhuan is facing charges of fraudulent appropriation of property for allegedly contacting individuals to broker an "appeal" related to a case. The Investigation Police Agency issued a decision to initiate a criminal case, indict the suspect, and detain them on August 24th. Furthermore, in the case involving Hai SAPA, the Ministry of Public Security announced on August 24th the initiation of a criminal case and the indictment of three suspects. The Investigation Police Agency is continuing its work on this matter. These cases serve as a stark reminder that alongside the numerous benefits of the internet and social media, they also harbor a significant amount of malicious and false information. The Ministry of Public Security recommends that every individual participating in social media should equip themselves with a "self-defense shield" and maintain constant vigilance and caution towards online information. The Ministry of Public Security has learned a valuable lesson: the images and information associated with celebrities on social media do not automatically equate to real value. This is a crucial point for individuals to consider during their interactions on social media, emphasizing the need for preparedness and knowledge. The Ministry of Public Security firmly asserts that the cyberspace is not outside the purview of the law. All illegal acts committed online or those that exploit the internet for illegal activities will be detected and handled in accordance with regulations. "We earnestly hope for the participation of citizens on social media to jointly build a truly safe, healthy, and civilized social media environment. Each individual participating on social media will contribute to spreading good values and supporting overall development," stated Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan. Efforts to Ease Durian Exports In a related development, Dang Ngoc Diep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported a significant surge in agricultural exports, particularly in July and August. For the first seven months of the year, agricultural exports were estimated at around $49.3 billion USD, a considerable achievement reflecting the ministry's efforts to implement government directives. Addressing challenges and lessons learned in exporting agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, especially durian, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development highlighted durian as a high-value product in Vietnam. With an area of approximately 200,000 hectares and a production of about 2.08 million tons, durian exports reached approximately $177 million USD in 2021. Projections for 2025 aim for $3.85 billion USD in exports, indicating a dramatic increase over the past five years. Durian is a key crop for the horticulture sector, contributing about 40% to its export value. In the first eight months of the current year, durian exports were estimated at approximately $1.95 billion USD. The Chinese market accounts for a dominant share, contributing about $1.85 billion USD, representing roughly 95% of Vietnam's durian exports. These figures underscore the product's significant economic value. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is prioritizing solutions to overcome export challenges and foster growth. The ministry has dispatched working groups to key durian-growing regions, including the Central Highlands, Southeast, and Southwest, to address and resolve issues. On July 1st, the ministry launched a digital traceability system, allowing domestic and international customers to access data from cultivation and care practices to fertilization and farming methods for various agricultural products, including durian. This initiative has been highly praised by international trade attachés from the US and China as a pioneering effort by the ministry to build customer trust. These measures are part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance durian exports and increase the product's value. The ministry has also been working to alleviate previous difficulties faced by businesses in obtaining cultivation area codes and has issued directives to facilitate this process.