Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), along with various localities, is implementing robust measures to crack down on those spreading fake news and unfounded rumors, ensuring a safer online environment.
As northern cities and provinces braced for Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath, a surge of fake news, including rumours of dike breaches and power outages, spread online, causing public anxiety.
Speaking at the ministry’s September press conference, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Deputy Director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, said the MIC is maintaining operations at its Anti-Fake News Centre, which specialises in receiving and addressing false information.
Apart from ministries and centrally-run agencies, nine localities nationwide have established special task forces that have played a crucial role in coordinating with local authorities in issuing warnings and debunking false information, helping calm public concern.
According to Huyen, during Typhoon Yagi, numerous fake reports on dike breaches, dam failures, and power outages in Hanoi circulated on social media. However, proactive efforts by ministries, agencies, and localities swiftly debunked them.
In Quang Ninh, one of the northern localities hardest hit by the typhoon, authorities quickly addressed rumours about the recovery of 16 bodies in Cam Pha, which had caused widespread panic. Meanwhile, neighbouring Hai Duong province also dealt with 21 cases of spreading fake news about flooding.
Other northern localities like Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, and Hai Phong have also handled multiple similar cases.
Notably, in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, a video showing a mother holding her child in a basin was circulated as a plea for rescue during flooding. Local authorities later confirmed it was modified by a YouTuber.
Authorities in Ha Giang also verified another video clip featuring a child separated from his mother as misinformation, and those involved have been summoned for investigation.
These incidents highlight a recurring trend where fake news spreads rapidly during natural disasters or epidemics, prompting emotional reactions and unverified news sharing by the public.
The MIC has also collaborated with cross-border social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to block and remove misleading information.
Specifically, Facebook has removed 36 posts containing false information about storms and floods, while TikTok has blocked 51 accounts for spreading distorted content about disaster response efforts.
The website tingia.gov.vn, managed by the Anti-Fake News Centre, received 45 cases of fake news, which were forwarded to authorities for investigation and handling.
To combat fake news and misinformation, the MIC has directed press agencies to continuously provide updates on flood prevention efforts, and promptly correct and debunk any rumours or false information circulating on unofficial news sites and social media.
The ministry has also instructed provincial Departments of Information and Communications to work in coordination with local police to identify and take action against individuals disseminating fake news and misinformation that incite public unrest./.
