However, alongside the advantages, the online environment also harbors many complex risks when exploited by certain individuals to spread false information, distort facts, slander organizations and individuals, or incite and divide the great national unity bloc.

Strictly handling violations

Although activities aimed at ideological subversion in cyberspace have decreased, more sophisticated and complex tactics still appear. Hostile forces, along with some ill-informed individuals, continue to use social media to disseminate articles, images, and videos with wrongful content, aiming to negate the leadership role of the Party and oppose the State. Many cases also exploit issues of ethnicity, religion, democracy, and human rights to incite separatist ideologies, sow prejudice, distort history, and illegally propagate religion.

A case in point involves Mr. Trần Văn S., owner of the TikTok account “Vì Một Điện Biên Phát Triển” (For a Developed Điện Biên). On January 9, 2025, Mr. S. posted three videos related to Decree No.168/2024/NĐ-CP (regulating administrative penalties in the field of road and rail transport) with content raising questions in a negative way. The danger was that Mr. S.’s personal views, when posted on social media, received many conflicting opinions and dissenting comments. Notably, some organizations suspected to be reactionary elements took advantage of this to post distorting comments, causing multiple streams of conflicting information and public opinion within the online community, especially during the initial phase of implementing Decree 168.

On January 15, 2025, the authorities summoned Mr. S. for questioning. After being informed and having the legal regulations and the negative impacts of posting unverified information clearly explained, Mr. S. recognized the situation, voluntarily removed all the videos, and committed not to repeat the offense.

Subsequently, on February 5, 2025, the Criminal Police Division, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division (provincial Police), summoned Quàng Thị Th., residing in Thanh Yên commune, to clarify her actions of using the social network Facebook to post false content, insulting the reputation and honor of the functional forces. At the police station, Quàng Thị Th. admitted her wrongdoing, clearly understood that her actions were wrong and violated the law, and expressed remorse and cooperation during the process.

Based on legal regulations, the authorities handled the case according to their jurisdiction, requiring the removal of all violating content and compelling Quàng Thị Th. to write a commitment not to re-offend.

Besides the cases of Mr. S. and Ms. Th., since 2024, functional forces have coordinated to receive, verify, and handle numerous denunciations and reports from organizations and individuals related to the misuse of social media to post false information, slander, insult the honor and dignity of others; false advertising about accommodation services on websites; posting unverified videos causing misunderstanding in public opinion, affecting the reputation and image of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Based on legal regulations, the functional forces have imposed administrative fines on cases of violations in the use of the internet and online information. They have also reminded and warned group and fanpage administrators not to allow members to post or share unverified content or to advertise or propagate information contrary to fine customs and traditions.

Spreading positive and official information

Faced with the downsides and negative impacts of social media and wrongful propaganda tactics, functional agencies have issued many directives regarding the fight against, prevention, and handling of harmful and toxic information in cyberspace. They have promoted communication, timely refutation of fabricated and false information, detection and handling of violations, and the replication of advanced models and examples of good people and good deeds in the fight against crime.

Agencies and units within the province regularly monitor the situation and synthesize public opinion regarding specific incidents, promptly providing accurate and objective information to people. In parallel, the information dissemination sector and related agencies have advised party committees and authorities at all levels to lead and direct the serious implementation of Resolution No.35-NQ/TW of the Politburo on strengthening the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation and refuting wrongful and hostile views in the new situation.

In the spirit of the directives from the Government and the province, all levels and sectors in the province have promoted political and ideological education, promptly informing and communicating the guidelines and lines of the Party and the policies and laws of the State regarding Party building, socio-economic development, and strengthening national defense and security.

Typically, the Steering Committee 35 of the provincial Military Command proactively monitors the situation and promotes communication about the implementation of Party Congress resolutions at all levels, major guidelines and policies of the Party and State, and vividly reflects the activities of officers and soldiers in their work, training, combat readiness, and participation in preventing natural disasters and epidemics. Units also direct their collaborators and forces fighting in cyberspace to increase the posting and sharing of official information, as well as exploiting and introducing materials and historical data affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

The provincial police firmly grasp the situation and targets in cyberspace, proactively advise on and synchronously implement measures to fight, prevent, and strictly handle individuals who exploit social media to propagate and disseminate harmful, toxic, distorted, and inciting information that causes internal division. Through these efforts, they contribute to orienting public opinion, raising awareness and vigilance among officials, party members, and the public against the schemes and tricks of hostile forces, and firmly protecting the Party’s ideological foundation.