HCMC – Vietnamese authorities will impose fines of up to VND50 million on individuals and organizations that spread false information on social media from July 1, according to a new Government decree.
Decree 174/2026/ND-CP deals with administrative violations in sectors, including telecommunications, information technology, electronic transactions and social media services.
Under the decree, individuals or organizations found providing or sharing false information that causes public panic, harms socio-economic activities, disrupts state agencies or obstructs public officials may face fines ranging from VND30 million to VND50 million, provided the violations do not warrant criminal prosecution.
In addition to fines, individuals and organizations will be required to suspend violating accounts, pages, community groups, or content channels.
Authorities will impose similar fines on content deemed to distort history, deny revolutionary achievements, undermine national unity, insult religion, promote gender or racial discrimination, or disclose state secrets and personal privacy information.
Separately, fines of between VND20 million and VND30 million will apply to those using social media to spread fabricated, defamatory or insulting content targeting agencies, organizations or individuals.
The decree also targets online content promoting prostitution, human trafficking, social vices, obscene material or content considered harmful to traditional cultural values, social morality and public health. Graphic depictions of killings, accidents and gruesome imagery may also be penalized.
The regulation takes effect on July 1, 2026, according to the Government news portal.
