The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on October 22 held a seminar to collect opinions on the draft Code of Cultural Conduct in Cyberspace.

Le Hai Binh, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said cyberspace is an inseparable part of social life, greatly affecting people’s thoughts, emotions, awareness, and ethical behavior. It is an environment parallel to real space where people are protected by law and must behave with culture and responsibility.

Cyberspace development not only brings many opportunities, but also poses challenges in management, awareness, and social ethics. Thus, perfecting legal frameworks, raising awareness, and promoting individual roles are essential.

According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Deputy Director of the Radio, Television and Electronic Information Department, the second draft of the Code of Cultural Conduct in Cyberspace received input from 59 units, with 45/59 agreeing. 

Meanwhile, others make suggestions, including separating media agencies, communication companies, advertising firms, and performance organizers; adding terminology explanations; removing reward and discipline clauses; adding mechanisms to detect and handle fraud or false advertising; and clarifying responsibilities of related organizations and agencies.

Huyen said the Code will guide behavior, build positive habits, ensure healthy cyberspace development, preserve national cultural identity, and build new-era Vietnamese people.

The second draft includes 3 chapters and 11 articles guiding civilized behavior, building healthy cyberspace, and raising responsibilities of individuals, influencers (KOL, KOC), and businesses, adding concepts like civilized and polite behavior, influencer, and more.

At the seminar, the Ministry of Public Security representative assessed the Code as extremely necessary, providing an important basis for combating violations by individuals and organizations online.

Nguyen Lam Thanh from TikTok Vietnam suggested that the implementation of the code should be flexible and adaptable to the unique characteristics of the digital environment.

Pham Anh Thi from Yeah1 Group proposed that influencers be treated as a separate category in the code, rather than grouped with ordinary individuals, because of their large-scale influence on public opinion. 

He also recommended establishing transparent and fair mechanisms to restrict collaboration with influencers who violate the code, allowing businesses to comply more proactively.

Raising cultural awareness in cyberspace

According to Bac, online images, language, and actions all reflect a person’s cultural level.

“Cyberspace is an open environment where anyone can become an actor, director, or even editor. Without awareness, aesthetics, and standards, this environment can easily be dominated by distorted and offensive content,” he said.

Bac pointed out that many small media companies now produce or reuse short videos with misleading or sensational titles to attract viewers.

“Such content not only negatively affects audiences but also distorts perceptions of art and culture,” he emphasized.

He proposed stricter management of online content providers and clearer regulations on aesthetics and cultural responsibility. “Not everyone can be an editor or content creator. Certain standards must be in place to ensure the integrity of cyberspace.”

Regarding terminology, he suggested replacing the phrase “unverified information” with “unconfirmed rumors.” According to him, the term “rumor” is more familiar and accurately conveys the viral nature and impact of online information.

In addition to stressing user responsibility, Xuan Bac highlighted the vital role of mainstream journalism in guiding public opinion and balancing truth versus misinformation, as well as positive versus negative content online.

“Media information must be accurate and objective, avoiding biased interpretation. When reported by reputable outlets, the public will have a trustworthy basis for forming correct perceptions,” he said.

He also emphasized that when building the Code of Conduct, policymakers should focus on cultural behavior in action, rather than general statements.

“Two people may perform the same act, but a cultured person will do it differently. Culture is not an abstract idea, it is shown through daily communication, interaction, and behavior,” Bac noted.

He concluded that every agency, organization, business, and individual should cultivate their own digital culture, from workplace ethics to professional and corporate culture.

“When everyone strives toward positive values, we can build a healthy, responsible, and humane online environment,” he said.

In the draft, civilized and polite behavior means performing communication and interaction with standards, showing respect, propriety, and compliance with laws, moral standards, and traditions to build a healthy, cultural, and effective working, learning, and living environment.

An influencer in cyberspace is an individual with credibility, societal attention, or a role in shaping public opinion, capable of influencing user awareness, attitudes, and behavior through media, especially social media and online platforms, based on credibility, follower count, interaction level, and content dissemination ability.

Tinh Le