On the afternoon of November 24, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Press Law (amended). Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung explained and clarified a number of issues raised by delegates.
Minister Nguyen Van Hung said that more than 10 delegates mentioned the issue of individuals and production organizations on cyberspace causing negative impacts, competing with the market share of the press and violating press copyrights.
The draft Press Law does not regulate the posting of information on cyberspace of individuals but only focuses on regulating the regulation of regulating the organization of press activities, the rights and obligations of agencies, organizations and individuals related to press activities.
The contents related to individuals' activities in cyberspace have been adjusted in the Law on Cyber Security and Decree 147/2024/ND-CP regulating the management, provision and use of the internet and information on the network, including specific sanctions.
Regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in press activities, according to Minister Nguyen Van Hung, the draft law has provisions on this issue. AI is first of all a tool to support the press making process. Press products, whether created by humans or AI, when published and broadcast, the heads of press agencies and the authors must be responsible for the content.
Therefore, the drafting agency has designed the draft law with the content: " Jurnalism agencies, authors, and press works use AI to support press activities in implementing the provisions of the Law on Intellectual Property, on professional ethics, and press agencies must have specific regulations on the use of AI".
Regarding the regulation on professional training to issue first-time press cards, Minister Nguyen Van Hung said that currently the whole country has about 21,000 journalists granted cards. Of which, 31.25% (6,562 people) graduated from university with a major in journalism, the remaining 68.75% graduated from other majors.
The regulation on professional training classes was issued after the drafting agency widely collected opinions from relevant agencies and agreed with the Vietnam Journalists Association, with the aim of protecting professional reputation, maintaining ethical standards, and helping new journalists avoid violations.
This regulation is similar to some other professions (such as lawyers and notaries, all must undergo professional training to practice). The goal is to do better, not to cause difficulties or create a "sub-license".
Regarding press economics, the Minister said that the draft law does not use the term "press economy", but there are regulations related to linkages, mechanisms, and policies for the press.
In the coming time, there will be guiding regulations to clarify the responsibility of the head, avoiding the situation where the private sector takes advantage of press products produced by press agencies to get rich.
