Brian Jeffrey
A recent statement by Nguyen Thanh Hoa shed light on how certain celebrities and influencers deliberately spark controversies to boost their popularity and sales. These orchestrated scandals are carefully planned strategies rather than spontaneous events, aiming to draw in more viewers and customers.
These individuals follow a structured six-step process to create a scandal, starting with a provocative act, building polarized fan bases, seeking legal advice in advance, interacting with authorities, accepting fines, and then continuing their promotional activities as usual.
Despite facing fines, like the 7.5 million VND penalty for spreading fake news, these celebrities persevere in their actions, using the increased visibility to aggressively market their products or services.
The authorities have taken measures against notable cases. Beauty queen Nam Em was fined a substantial amount for various offenses, including spreading false information and showing disrespect to national figures. Actress Angela Phuong Trinh also faced penalties for endorsing incorrect health treatments online.
While these fines are meant to deter such behavior, offenders often view them as a minor expense in their overall promotional strategies, as noted by Hoa.
The department calls for stricter regulations and better monitoring by social media platforms to prevent the normalization of such misconduct. Hoa stressed the importance of platforms and advertisers taking a proactive stance by refusing to endorse or fund harmful content.
There are plans to make revisions to the current decree on internet services and online information, with potential stricter penalties for violations, particularly in livestreaming activities.
Nguyen Ngoc Hoi emphasized the department’s dedication to thoroughly addressing each violation to maintain a safe and responsible online environment. “Our goal is to ensure a clean digital space, and we will enforce strict measures against breaches,” Hoi stated.
This dynamic landscape underscores the intricate dynamics among celebrity influence, regulatory hurdles, and the roles of different stakeholders in preserving a healthy online community.
