From December 1, people that publish or broadcast information in contravention of the country’s and people’s interests will face a fine of up to VND 200 million.
Such is a salient point of Decree 119 dated October 7, on sanctioning of administrative violations in the fields of press and publishing, which is designed to replace Decree 159 of 2013.
Specifically, a fine of between VND 3 and 5 million will be imposed on journalists who use expired press cards for their journalistic activities or improperly implement guidelines and objectives specified in press operation licenses of their press agencies.
In addition to the above-said fine, based on nature and severity of their violations, violators will also be subject to such additional sanctions as revocation of press activity permit for up to 12 months, operation suspension, etc.
As for acts of illegal hindrance to press activities, those who offend to the honor and dignity of journalists or reporters on duty, ruin and intentionally damage professional journalistic gears and documents of journalist or reporters will be fined up to VND 40 million.
Meanwhile, those having words and activities that pose threat to a journalist and correspondent’s life will be subject to a fine of between VND 3 and 5 million.
As for violations against regulations on provision of information, those publishing or broadcasting false information which causes very serious consequences or information and images that provoke violence will face a fine of VND 100 million.
A fine of up to VND 150 million will be imposed on those publishing journalistic products that were suspended from publishing, seized, prohibited from circulation or eliminated.
Decree 119 sets the heaviest fine of VND 200 million on violators, which is double compared to that under current regulations.
Specifically, such fine will be levied to those who publish or broadcast information that adversely affect the country’s and people’s interest, distorted or slandered information causing anxiety among the people, information that may affect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, or information distorting the historical records, denying revolutionary achievements or offending the country’s image and national heroes.
Such violators will also have to take remedial measures such as compulsory correction, expression of apologies, recall of violating press products or publications, removal of published false information, and return of illegal benefits earned from violations.- (VLLF)
