Vietnam has instructed cross-border social platforms to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) models that can automatically detect and remove “toxic” content, according to state media reports on Friday. The Vietnamese government has been urging companies like Meta’s Facebook, Google’s YouTube, and TikTok to cooperate with authorities in eliminating content deemed offensive, false, and anti-state. This is the first time that Vietnam has issued such an order, as reported by state-run broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) during the information ministry’s mid-year review event.
Details of the Order
The report did not provide specific details regarding the timeline and implementation of the new requirement for cross-border platforms. However, it mentioned that during the first half of this year, Facebook removed 2,549 posts, YouTube removed 6,101 videos, and TikTok took down 415 links in accordance with government requests. These actions highlight Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to combat disinformation in news and its determination to regulate foreign social media platforms.
Southeast Asia’s Governance and Ethics Guidelines for AI
The announcement from Vietnam coincides with other Southeast Asian countries developing governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence. These guidelines aim to establish “guardrails” for the rapidly growing technology, as reported by Reuters earlier this month. Vietnam has been proactive in implementing regulations and laws, including a cybersecurity law, to address disinformation and ensure foreign tech firms have a physical presence in the country and store data locally.
Inspection of TikTok’s Operations and Netflix’s Compliance
Last month, Vietnam conducted a comprehensive inspection of TikTok’s local operations, which revealed “various” violations, according to the information ministry. As part of its efforts to regulate foreign streaming platforms, Vietnam also announced that Netflix has submitted the necessary documents to open a local office in the country. These actions underscore Vietnam’s commitment to regulating content and ensuring compliance with its regulatory framework.
In summary, Vietnam has issued an order requiring cross-border social platforms to employ AI models capable of automatically detecting and removing “toxic” content. The government’s ongoing efforts to combat offensive and false information have led to the removal of thousands of posts and videos from platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. These measures align with Southeast Asia’s broader initiatives to establish governance and ethics guidelines for AI technology. Vietnam’s comprehensive inspection of TikTok’s operations and Netflix’s compliance further demonstrate its commitment to regulating foreign tech companies and ensuring the integrity of online content.
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