On the morning of December 4, continuing the 52nd Session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the explanation, acceptance, and revision of the draft Press Law (amended).
Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh presented a number of major issues in receiving, explaining, and revising the draft law.
Some opinions suggested that there should be legal constraints to require cross-border platforms (such as Google, Facebook, TikTok, etc.) to pay copyright fees and share revenue with Vietnamese press agencies.
National Assembly deputies (NADs) proposed to clarify the responsibility of social media platforms in preventing and handling bad, toxic information, fake news, and false information on their platforms.
At the same time, there are opinions suggesting that press copyright protection in cyberspace should be regulated more specifically to avoid illegal and widespread copying on social networks that is greatly affecting copyright and information transparency.
In response to this opinion, the Standing Committee of the Committee for Culture and Society said that to ensure copyright and related rights, the draft law has added Clause 2, Article 39, accordingly stipulating: agencies, organizations and individuals using press works must negotiate with press agencies according to the provisions of law.
As for information published by cross-border platforms, according to the reviewing agency, "not subject to regulation" of the draft revised Press Law.
The processing of this information is regulated in Decree No. 147 of the Government on the management, provision and use of Internet services and information on the network.
Accordingly, the cross-border platform must remove the violating information within 24 hours of receiving a request from the Vietnamese agency.
Regarding the contents related to the press economy, Mr. Vinh said that in response to the opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Standing Committee of the Committee and the drafting agency reviewed and revised regulations related to public investment, autonomy mechanisms, and regulations on revenue from business activities of press agencies in the draft law.
Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man acknowledged and highly appreciated the drafting agency and the reviewing agency for having absorbed and edited many comments from the National Assembly Standing Committee and National Assembly deputies.
The National Assembly Chairman said that the opinions of National Assembly deputies focus on policy mechanisms to develop journalism, manage journalism in cyberspace, protect the safety of journalism, licensing and management conditions for collaborators, definitions and legal status.
The National Assembly Chairman expressed high consensus on tax incentives for the press stipulated in the Law on Corporate Income Tax.
Accordingly, all types of press are entitled to a tax rate of 10%, previously print newspapers were entitled to a tax rate of 10%, other types of press are subject to a tax rate of 20%.
Regarding artificial intelligence, the National Assembly Chairman said that the draft law has added a provision that press agencies, authors, and works only use artificial intelligence to support press activities, and must comply with regulations on intellectual property and professional ethics. Press agencies are responsible for regulating the use of artificial intelligence in their agencies.
