VietNamNet Bridge – In recent days, Facebook users in Vietnam have chatted a lot about some Vietnamese who posed as Islamic State (IS) militants on Facebook, including one who called himself Timur Zhunusov.

A fake IS militant facebook.

And yet, some Facebook users entered this page to curse, condemn, and provoke IS militants to come to Vietnam. The incident took place after a series of bloody terrorist attacks made by IS in Paris on November 13.

Many Facebook users have shown their disagreement over this act.

Related to this issue, lawyer and former judge Pham Cong Ut said that young people are increasingly abusing the social media, ignoring any threat to the public.

Many people think that social media is a virtual world without consequences caused by inaccurate information. They do not know the potential consequences behind theirs agitated comments or status. They do not recognize they are violating the law and could be punished.

“The fact that some users set up fake Facebook accounts and challenge IS militants to come to Vietnam is a potential hazard for individuals and society, causing public panic and affecting national politics," the lawyer said.

Le Van Thiep, Head of the Toan Cau Law Office, the Hanoi Bar Association, said that fake Facebook accounts are a potential threat to society.

"In fact, some fake information on the Internet caused social panic. These acts are very dangerous,” Thiep said, adding that the authorities would investigate and strictly punish these violators.

According to lawyer Ut, such acts may face administrative fines from VND10 million to VND20 million ($500-$1,000) for breaking the rules on storage, leasing, transmission, supply, access, collection, processing, exchange and use of information.

If the information causes public panic, violators may have to pay fine from VND10 million to VND100 million ($500-$5,000), non-custodial re-education or even be sentenced from six months to three years imprisonment.

"So in my opinion, Facebook users should be intelligent in using this tool in a world where information technology has significant influence," the lawyer said.

Lawyer Thiep proposed to have new regulations on sanctions for publication of wrong information on the Internet.

Lawyer Truong Quoc Hoe, Head of the Interla Law Office, Hanoi Bar Association said that the acts of young people who challenged IS militants to attack Vietnam or even faked themselves as IS militant are “stupid” and the consequences of these acts on society and themselves cannot be foreseen.

Related to these issues, a Hanoi police officer said that the police would investigate those who spread rumors to confuse the public.

Le Ha