Fake news remains rampant on social media, becoming more sophisticated with the help of advanced technologies such as AI. To tackle this problem, stronger regulations are needed to address not just the sources of misinformation, but also those who interact with it - such as liking, sharing, or even the platforms themselves.

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If we don't act, we won’t be able to control fake news. Photo: PV

Le Quoc Vinh, Chairman of Le Bros, acknowledged that fake news has become overwhelmingly prevalent.

“It is wishful thinking to believe there is a way to become immune to fake news,” he said. “But if we don't act, we won’t be able to control it at all.”

According to him, for businesses or individuals targeted by fake or misleading news, it is essential to respond immediately and publicly. This includes presenting accurate information, issuing counter-statements, and supplying verified facts.

Simultaneously, cases should be reported to platforms like Facebook and TikTok to halt the spread. However, the most effective approach remains legal action, as exemplified by VinGroup's ongoing lawsuits.

For the general public, the key is to avoid blindly believing everything they read. People should pause, verify information through trustworthy sources, and seek out official outlets when possible. Importantly, one should avoid commenting on or sharing any content they do not fully understand or verify.

Vo Quoc Hung, Growth Director of Tonkin Media, emphasized the necessity of strict legal sanctions. The initial spreaders of fake news should face the heaviest penalties, while those who interact with it (such as liking or sharing) should also be penalized - comparable to laws governing the dissemination of obscene materials.

He suggested that platforms should be required to remove fake news and disclose the accounts responsible within 24 hours. The EU Digital Services Act provides a clear model in this regard, which Vietnam should consider adopting.

Additionally, Hung proposed revenue-based fines for platforms that fail to cooperate or make only token efforts - such as posting vague policies without enforcement. Fines amounting to tens or even hundreds of millions of dong (roughly thousands of USD) are trivial to these corporations and must be scaled up based on revenue percentages.

Digital expert Nhan Nguyen from Ho Chi Minh City pointed out the difficulty of penalizing users who simply "like" posts. At the time of publication, most readers naturally assume the information is true, as it has not yet been fact-checked or debunked. Only when a third party steps in is the falsehood exposed.

In his view, users who knowingly spread fake news for personal gain should be punished - at the very least, issued a formal warning. High-follower fanpages have significant influence and must face consequences if they intentionally spread misinformation.

Regarding AI-generated fake news, Huong Hoang, Founder of the startup Unikon, said that AI itself must be leveraged to detect and label AI-created content. This includes marking such content clearly for users and embedding digital watermarks or unique identifiers in original images, videos, and text for authentication and traceability.

She also stressed the importance of strengthening news from credible sources like the press and verified publishers. Social platforms should prioritize such content over that from ordinary users or unverified links.

Moreover, platforms need to update and optimize algorithms to favor credible sources rather than simply boosting viral or sensational content.

Ultimately, there must be a comprehensive penalty system in place - for content creators, sharers, and the platforms themselves - to foster a culture of verification and responsibility before sharing information.

Le My