Human rights violated by fake news on social networks

Speaking at a recent online seminar on international law on cyberspace, Ms. Elsbeth Akkerman, the Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, said that in the context of complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, this seminar was held to exchange information and experiences, strengthen the work of the police force to prevent and combat cybercrime, ensure security and safety on cyberspace, ensure human rights, especially human rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children, who are usually the target of cybercriminals.

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Along with economics, social issues, especially human rights, are also facing great challenges. This year, when the whole country and the whole world are working together to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, a lot of fake and inaccurate, fabricated information about the epidemic was posted on the internet, social networks, making many people worried, affecting social security.

On February 3, a 1-minute audio file about Covid-19 cases at HCM City’s Cho Ray Hospital was widely spread on the internet. In the audio file, a woman, assumed to call her sister, said: “Baby, I have a friend working in Cho Ray hospital... He told me that 33 people died of Corona virus in Cho Ray hospital. This information is 100% accurate because he works there so he knew it clearly. He told me that would stay home tomorrow. He doesn’t dare to go to work anymore..."

On February 4, people in Lam Dong province panicked about the photo of a positive test report of Lam Dong General Hospital for a 14-year-old teenager suspected of being infected with a new strain of corona virus. The local police identified that the photo came from Facebook page of a high school student in Ward 10, Da Lat City. The student declared that the photo was shared on his class’ facebook page by a classmate.

The Department of Information and Communications of Hai Phong City recently imposed fine of VND10 million on Hoang Anh, 34, for posting false information on his personal facebook page. Hoang Anh posted the status "The whole Hai Phong is being isolated”, which made many local people concerned and worried. This false information also affected the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemics of the city authorities.

On January 31, a man and a woman in Dak Nong province wrote on their personal facebook pages about two people infected with Covid-19 in Dak Nong. After this information was spread widely in the local community, the authorities of Dak Nong province had to confirm that there were no cases of patients infected with Covid-19 in the area.

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Such false information has seriously violated human rights as it makes people panic. After the authorities verified the information, all people who delivered fake and false news were punished in accordance with the law.

The above examples are the proof that social media has been used to influence the achievements of human rights. Therefore, General Le Tan Toi said that cyberspace cannot be a field without laws, especially in the current context, when fake news, false and uncontrolled information seriously affects the assurance of human rights, such as privacy rights of individuals and businesses.

The importance of protecting human rights in cyberspace

At the recent "International Law on cyberspace" conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Tuong Duy Kien, from the Institute of Human Rights under the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics affirmed the importance of protecting human rights on the cyber space today.

He argued that the tremendous role and development of the social network brought many benefits, opportunities but also challenges and conflicts with many other issues in society. The strong development of social networking leads to the freedom of individuals, who are "journalists" on the internet.

Therefore, human rights in cyberspace is not an absolute right, but on the contrary, it is necessary to have limitations, which has been reflected in many specific provisions of Vietnamese law. State management needs to clearly define limits so as not to infringe on human rights in cyberspace, but at the same time, it must define its role in ensuring human rights in cyberspace, especially in protecting vulnerable groups, with a focus on women and children. It is important to early identify violations of human rights on cyberspace, and to perfect management and sanction mechanisms for such acts, from administrative to criminal sanctions.

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Experts attending the seminar "International Law on cyberspace" said that, after taking effect for 1 year, Vietnam's Law on Cyber Security has contributed to improving the effectiveness of the protection of benefits. legitimate interests of organizations and individuals in cyberspace, the efficiency of the protection of sovereignty, national security and interests, legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals in cyberspace, building a healthy cyberspace environment, creating an equal environment of obligations, responsibilities and interests between domestic and foreign businesses. At the same time, it helps create legal mechanisms to combat cybercriminals, better guarantee human rights.

Hoa Binh