The Government issued Decree No. 237/2026/ND-CP detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Press Law.
The Decree stipulates that press agencies when using artificial intelligence (AI) systems in the collection, production, editing, distribution of information content and other press activities must ensure compliance with the provisions of press law, AI law and related regulations.
The press agency is responsible for verifying, reviewing and being responsible for the authenticity and legality of the content created or supported by the AI system.
Press agencies must clearly notify and label in easily recognizable locations for documents, images, sounds, and videos created or edited by AI systems that may cause confusion about the authenticity of events and characters; notification and labeling are carried out in accordance with the provisions of AI law.
Press agencies are not allowed to use AI systems to create or spread fake, untrue, or distorted content, or content that may cause damage to national security, social order and safety, honor, dignity, and legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.
Press agencies must establish and maintain procedures for appraisal, editing, risk control and personal responsibility for the use of AI systems; keep operating logs and technical records to serve inspection and examination work as required by competent state management agencies.
Press agencies are responsible for providing information content using AI at the request of competent state agencies to serve inspection, examination, and handling of violations in accordance with the law.
The Decree also clearly stipulates the conditions for issuing press operating licenses to social organizations and socio-professional organizations.
Accordingly, social organizations and socio-professional organizations wishing to be licensed to operate in journalism must ensure the following conditions:
1. Have sufficient conditions specified in Clause 3, Article 17 of Law No. 126/2025/QH15.
2. Operating time and number of members: Social organizations, socio-professional organizations with an operating time of at least 3 years. The minimum number of official members is 150.
3. Personnel of press agencies: There are at least 7 personnel, of which at least 3 people are issued press cards.
4. Conditions on facilities: Having a stable headquarters for 2 years or more arranged by the press governing body or hired by the press governing body to ensure working conditions for the number of personnel according to the operating permit project.
The Decree also clearly stipulates the conditions for press agencies to implement more types of journalism.
According to regulations, press agencies that meet the conditions specified in Clause 3, Article 17 of Law No. 126/2025/QH15 are considered for licensing to implement other types of press.
Conditions for publishing additional press publications and supplements (except for advertising supplements); opening specialized pages of online newspapers include:
- Having a motto and purpose in accordance with the motto and purpose of the press agency; service objects; location of servers and connection service providers (for specialized pages of electronic newspapers) in accordance with the content of the press agency's operating license;
- Have plans for organization and personnel to ensure the operation of press publications, supplements, and special pages of electronic newspapers;
- Having the name and presentation form of press publications, supplements; name and interface of the homepage of the specialized website of electronic newspapers;
- Have technical solutions to ensure information safety and security; for specialized websites of electronic journalism, there must be a lower-level domain name that is consistent with the registered domain name.
Decree 237/2026/ND-CP takes effect from July 1, 2026.
