The Information Ministry said on Thursday that Vietnam will investigate TikTok’s operations in the country beginning in May because “toxic” content on the short-video platform “poses a threat to the country’s youth, culture, and tradition.”
Moderating content on the popular Chinese-owned app that features bite-sized videos was “far more difficult” than on other platforms, according to ministry representative Le Quang Tu Do at a news conference.
“We will need tougher measures to combat that content; simply removing it will not suffice,” Do say. He did not go into detail about the measures.
According to the government, the app, owned by ByteDance, has nearly 50 million users in Vietnam aged 18 and up, citing data from research firm DataReportal.
According to company data, it removed 1.7 million videos at the request of the Vietnamese government in the fourth quarter of last year because they were deemed to be in violation of government policies.
When asked if TikTok would be banned in the Southeast Asian country, Do state that those who did not follow local rules would be barred.
“TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube are all cross-border social media platforms that adhere to international standards.” “However, when operating in Vietnam, the platform must comply with local regulations on both content and tax obligations,” Do say earlier this week, adding that TikTok had recently allowed “toxic, offensive, false, and superstitious” content on its platform.
According to the ministry, TikTok is the only platform being investigated because it is the only one with local offices.
The Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information informed the company in February that a government delegation would visit its Vietnam offices in the second quarter.
“This is an interdisciplinary inspection activity planned by the government and in accordance with Vietnam law for companies operating in Vietnam, not just TikTok,” said TikTok Vietnam in an email.
TikTok Vietnam also said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday that it had updated its guidelines, which are set to go into effect on April 21, to be more transparent about its rules and how it enforces them.
