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The Latest: On May 5, 2026, Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) released appraisal documents for a revised draft decree on preventing and combating fake news and false information.

Now in its third amendment, the decree introduces a new addition to Article 4: a classification system that categorizes fake news targeting state leaders as “high harm" while labeling fake news targeting everyday citizens as “low harm.”

Because this provision was added after the public consultation period had already expired, the public will not be allowed to comment on the proposal.

The Details: Under the newly revised Article 4, the level of harm will determine the categorization of fake news and false information into two groups:

High-Harm Information: This includes fake or false content capable of causing major negative impacts on security, national defense, and the reputation of the Communist Party, the state, and senior leaders. It also includes content that may trigger media crises.

Low-Harm Information: This category includes fake or false content with a limited scope, affecting the lawful rights and interests of individuals or other organizations.

In its report on affected social relations, the MPS said this classification system will help organize forces, allocate resources, and carry out suitable preventive and enforcement measures.

Furthermore, based on citizens’ right to access information, the decree will divide fake news into three access categories: inaccessible information, conditionally accessible information, and accessible information.

The Background: This decree marks the first time Việt Nam has introduced a standalone legal document specifically targeting fake news. Previously, regulations were scattered across various frameworks, including the Law on Advertising, the Press Law, the Cybersecurity Law, and the Telecommunications Law.

The ideological foundation for this new decree was reinforced on April 8, 2026, when the Party Central Committee issued Regulation No. 19 . This regulation formally classified information into “toxic and harmful information” (false, distorted, or anti-party and anti-state content) and “positive information” (truthful information aligned with party guidelines, policies, and state law).

Before and during the 14th Party Congress and the election of the 16th National Assembly, authorities heavily fined and arrested numerous citizens accused of posting or sharing fabricated content deemed hostile to the Communist Party, the state, or senior leaders.

When the MPS released the original draft of this anti-fake news decree for public consultation between Feb. 13 and Feb. 22, 2026—a period deliberately coinciding with the Lunar New Year holiday—the harm classification system was notably absent .

Why It Matters: The harm classifications were only added to the May 5 appraisal documents after the MPS received private feedback from other state agencies, including the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

Because the brief public consultation window officially has already expired, the newly revised dossier—including the above proposal—will no longer be subject to public comment. During another public consultation for the revised Penal Code running from April 17 to May 7, 2026, the MPS also proposed introducing a separate criminal offense for “propaganda against the Communist Party.”

Lê Sáng wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on May 11, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine has the copyrights of the English translation.

Việt Nam Drafts Fake News Decree: Ministry of Public Security Classifies Violations by Harm Level

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