Expanding the space of press activities in cyberspace

The draft Law on Press (amended) supplements regulations on operating models; regulations on expanding the operating space of the press in cyberspace; promoting the development of the press economy, in the context of arranging and streamlining the organizational apparatus of the political system, meeting the requirements of information and propaganda in the new era.

On the morning of October 23, continuing the 10th Session, the National Assembly worked in the hall to listen to the Report on the draft Press Law (amended).

Presenting the Draft Law on Press (amended), Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated: After more than 8 years of implementation, a number of provisions of the 2016 Law on Press have revealed a number of inadequacies and limitations, failing to meet the practical requirements of press activities and the development of science , technology and communications.

Therefore, this law amendment is necessary to perfect legal regulations to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies on the press; adjust and manage press activities in a timely and appropriate manner in the context of the strong and rapid development of science, technology and modern media; and overcome limitations and inadequacies in current legal regulations on the press.

The National Assembly works in the hall to listen to the Report on the draft Press Law (amended). (Photo: DUY LINH)

The press is linked to content production and operates in cyberspace.

With the spirit of innovation in legal thinking, the draft Law on Press (amended) only regulates issues under the authority of the National Assembly and management principles. On that basis, the draft Law consists of 4 Chapters and 51 Articles (2 Chapters and 10 Articles less than the current law).

The Draft Law supplements the provisions on the position of the press: "The press in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is revolutionary press..." to affirm the historical and revolutionary nature of the press, aiming to build a professional, humane, and modern press as proposed by the 13th Party Congress.

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

The Draft Law 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.

Accordingly, the following provisions are added: A key multimedia media agency is a press agency with many types of press and affiliated press agencies; with a specific financial mechanism according to Government regulations; established in accordance with the Press System Development and Management Strategy approved by the Prime Minister. A press, radio and television agency is a press agency under the provincial or municipal Party Committee, with many types of press and press products.

At the same time, supplement regulations on press agencies' activities in cyberspace: Press agencies' activities in cyberspace must comply with legal regulations on press, cyber security, regulations on the principles and purposes of press agencies and be consistent with international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

Supplementing regulations on press agencies to cooperate in producing content, except for content on political news, security, national defense, and foreign affairs to promote press agencies to exploit the value from cooperation activities to serve press development, while ensuring orientation in political news information (information on activities of Party and State leaders, important events of the country...), security, national defense, and foreign affairs. Assign the Government to specify in detail the cooperation in press activities, clarify the responsibilities and interests of the parties when participating in cooperation, and promote cooperation to bring value to press development.

The Law supplements the principle of press development associated with social responsibility and professional ethical obligations, not pursuing commercialization, ensuring that the press fulfills its mission of orienting and leading information in society.

Clarifying the concept of "journalism economics"

Presenting the review report, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said: The Committee agrees with the need to comprehensively amend the Press Law; basically agrees with the scope and subjects of regulation of the draft Law.

Regarding the main multimedia media agency, the Committee basically agrees with the addition of regulations on “main multimedia media agency”. However, it is recommended to continue researching, clarifying the content, criteria for identification and specific financial mechanisms of main multimedia media agencies.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Dac Vinh. (Photo: DUY LINH)

It is suggested that in addition to the 6 press agencies identified under Decision 362/QD-TTg dated April 3, 2019 of the Prime Minister on approving the national press development and management plan until 2025, it is necessary to consider adding key multimedia press agencies in some localities or some units that have built up prestige and have a certain position in press activities.

Referring to the contents related to “press economy”, Chairman Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the Committee agreed with the regulations to create conditions for press agencies to have more revenue sources, 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 sources from business activities of press agencies.

Regarding press activities in cyberspace, the Committee proposed to study and supplement the following contents: Supplementing regulations to promote press activities in cyberspace; supplementing regulations on the legal responsibility of foreign social networking platforms in cases where the press agency's content channel in cyberspace is hacked, information is modified with illegal content; handling cases where illegal content appears on this channel. At the same time, study and prescribe principles on the mechanism for implementing agreements, responsibilities of press agencies and relevant agencies and organizations in ensuring copyright and related rights for press works in cyberspace, press works using artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the program, this afternoon, the National Assembly will discuss in groups the draft Law on Press (amended).

VY ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mo-rong-khong-gian-hoat-dong-cua-bao-chi-tren-khong-gian-mang-post917396.html