Brian Jeffrey
The police in Dak Nong province have imposed a penalty on a Lang Son man for disseminating false information online. This individual claimed that large quantities of durians were treated with hazardous chemicals, causing significant public distress.
On June 9, officials in Dak Nong revealed that Ha Van N. (born 1990), who lives in Tam Thanh Ward of Lang Son City, would face an administrative fine of VND 7.5 million (around USD 295).
Ha Van N. was sanctioned for his role in disseminating misleading information regarding durians on social media platforms.
Previously, on May 22, the Facebook user “Ha Bao Nam” shared a post featuring a video named “Breaking News: Durians soaked in chemicals.”
This video falsely claimed that numerous tons of durians in Dak Nong had been doused with toxic substances before being sold.
The post garnered significant attention with thousands of views, shares, and comments, which led to widespread panic and adversely impacted the local agricultural industry.
Officials confirmed that the claims made in the video were unfounded and lacked evidence, severely harming the reputation of durians from Dak Nong.
During interrogation at the police station, Ha Van N. acknowledged his wrongdoing, cooperated with the inquiry, and voluntarily deleted the misleading information, which violated laws related to postal services, telecommunications, and online information safety.
Consequently, he was fined VND 7.5 million (approximately USD 295) for his actions.
