The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)’ Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI) has ordered tens of domestic and foreign brands to not advertise on video clips that contain anti-State propaganda on YouTube, a video-sharing platform.

The Ministry of Information and Communications has ordered tens of domestic
and foreign brands to not advertise on video clips that contain anti-State propaganda
on YouTube. (Photo: amazeemetrics.com)

The move was made after the authority discovered many prestigious brands have advertised on videos with the illegal and malicious content via Google Ads. Particularly, video producers get advertising revenue sharing from Google, which means the tech giant indirectly funds anti-Vietnamese State activities.

According to the MIC, some 8,000 clips with harmful contents shared on YouTube had been removed by Google in recent two years at the request of the MIC.

However, the number of harmful-content clips shared on YouTube is on the rise, it said, reporting that about 55,000 clips which are toxic or violate Vietnam’s law are being shared on the platform.

ABEI Deputy Head Le Quang Tu Do pointed to Google’s content loose management regime, uncontrolled advertizing activities on the videos and Google Adsense, and allowing users to buy ads directly from YouTube and Google without involvement of domestic advertising agents as causes of the existence of malicious clips on YouTube platform.

The ministry asked YouTube and Google to identify Vietnamese channels, and only those which are certified and have proper contents will be considered for ad revenue sharing.

It will work with the State Bank of Vietnam, the General Department of Taxation and the Ministry of Public Security to control the flow of ad revenue, and mete out strict punishment to any violation.

Besides, it has ordered YouTube to remove suggestion mode for violating channels, and ban users from republishing the removed clips. Individuals and organisations are requested to coordinate with the ministry to prevent and remove the channels with inappropriate contents.

Statistics from the ministry showed that Vietnam’s online advertising market is valued at around 400 million USD, with over 70 percent of the revenue going to Facebook and Google. 

Although Google earns some 150 million USD each year from ads in Vietnam, it has no legal representative offices in the country. Thus, the MIC said that it is necessary for Google and YouTube to open branches or representative offices in Vietnam to provide customer service and work with Vietnamese authorities when needed. 

As for social network users, they should be responsible for their comments and sharing of unverified information while correcting false information and opposing to fake news.

The MIC is recommending the Government to complete laws on social network management and cross-border services.