Over 170 people handled for spreading fake and false information on novel coronavirus outbreak

Thứ Năm, 06/02/2020, 23:11
The announcement was made by Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security, at the Government’s press conference on February 5.
Deputy Minister Luong Tam Quang speaks at the event. 

The meeting was chaired by Minister, Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung.

Nguyen Thanh Lam, Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, said that persons posting false information about the coronavirus outbreak on social networks have been seriously punished.

Accordingly, the Police Station of Thach That District, Hanoi, has summoned and fined a local person for spreading misinformation about the spread of the new strain of Coronavirus while the Municipal Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City has handled 17 cases of misinformation spreading.

A number of other cases of posting fake information on social networks in ThanhHoa, Da Nang, QuangNinh, Can Tho and Thai Nguyen have also been handled.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quangsaid that some people spread fake and false information about the local disease situation on social networks, which caused much public concern.

Deputy Minister Quang said, over 170 people have so far been handled by local police units for spreading fake and false information, and they have had to remove the posting.

According to the Deputy Minister, based on Clause 3, Article 64, Decree 174 issued by the Government, stipulating the administrative penalties for spreading fake and false information on social networks for public attraction or other purposes, police forces at all levels will propose the competent authorities to handle the violations.

There have been 41 persons violating the regulations so far refused to work with the competent agencies on their violations. The Deputy Minister of Public Security said that the police forces are collecting documents and further investigating into the cases. The offenders may be prosecuted as criminals if the police find out sufficient evidence of their violations. Deputy Minister Quang added that the police will strictly handle any violations in line with the laws. 
By Duy Tien