Supplementing regulations to promote press activities in cyberspace

The Committee on Culture and Society proposed to study and supplement regulations to promote press activities in cyberspace; regulations on the legal responsibility of foreign social networking platforms in cases where the content channel on cyberspace of a press agency is hacked, information is modified with illegal content; and handling cases where illegal content appears on this channel.

Expanding the space of press activities

Presenting the Draft Law on Press (amended), Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated that, with the spirit of innovation in law-making thinking, the draft Law only regulates issues under the authority of the National Assembly and stipulates management principles. On that basis, the structure of the draft Law includes 4 chapters and 51 articles (2 chapters and 10 articles less than the 2016 Press Law).

Regarding the scope of regulation, the draft Law stipulates citizens' rights to freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press; press organization and activities; rights and obligations of agencies, organizations and individuals participating in and related to press activities; and state management of the press.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung presents the draft Law on Press (amended). Photo: Ho Long

The draft Law amends the content of 41 Articles to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies on press work; ensures that the Law stipulates principles under the authority of the National Assembly , assigns the Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to regulate practical issues that frequently change to ensure flexibility and suitability with reality; ensures consistency and consistency with relevant legal provisions; is consistent with newly added management principles, overcomes shortcomings in the 2016 Press Law as pointed out in the 4 policy groups approved by the Government; is consistent with the development trend of modern communication technology, and expands the space for press activities in cyberspace.

View of the meeting. Photo: Ho Long

The Draft Law adds four new Articles regulating the revocation of press operation licenses to ensure strict management and sanctions that are strong enough to deter violations in press activities; regulates press activities in cyberspace to expand the space for press activities in cyberspace, orient and guide information, and develop new press business models; and provides transitional regulations to ensure compliance with the addition of regulations on conditions for granting press operation licenses to social organizations and professional social organizations.

The Draft Law also stipulates principles on operating models, press economics, and expanding the press's operating space to develop the press in the context of streamlining the political system's organizational apparatus to meet information and propaganda requirements in the new era.

Clarifying the concept of "press economics" and related regulations

According to the Report on the review of the draft Law presented by Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh, the Committee on Culture and Society agrees with the need to comprehensively amend the Press Law; basically agrees with the scope and subjects of regulation of the draft Law. The amendment of the Law aims to continue to institutionalize the Party's policies and guidelines on building a professional, humane and modern press and media system, overcoming the limitations and shortcomings of the current Law and in press work in recent times.

The Draft Law continues to identify four types of press, and at the same time, changes the names to print press, radio press, television press and electronic press. The Committee believes that the above change of name needs to be carefully considered to ensure consistency with specialized terminology and universality; it is recommended to study the use of the concepts of print press, radio, television, and electronic press to suit the practice in Vietnam and internationally.

Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh presents the Report on the review of the draft Law. Photo: Ho Long

There are opinions suggesting that the drafting agency continue to research and have more appropriate regulations on press types, meeting the development requirements of press types in the digital age.

Regarding the contents related to “press economy”, the Committee agrees with the regulations to create conditions for press agencies to have more revenue, increase financial resources to ensure and improve the quality of operations as in the draft Law. However, it is recommended to continue to research, supplement, and clarify the concept of “press economy” and regulations related to public investment, autonomy mechanism, and regulations on revenue from business activities of press agencies.

National Assembly deputies attending the meeting. Photo: Quang Khanh

Regarding press activities in cyberspace, the Committee proposed to study and supplement regulations to promote press activities in cyberspace; supplement regulations on the legal responsibility of foreign social networking platforms in cases where the press agency's content channel in cyberspace is hacked or information is modified with illegal content; and handle cases where illegal content appears on this channel.

In addition, it is recommended that the drafting agency study and prescribe principles on the mechanism for implementing agreements and responsibilities of press agencies and relevant agencies and organizations in ensuring copyright and related rights for press works on cyberspace and press works using artificial intelligence (AI).

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/bo-sung-quy-dinh-thuc-day-hoat-dong-cua-bao-chi-tren-khong-gian-mang-10392541.html