HÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Information and Communication’s Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information has asked dozens of brands to pull their ads from video clips that contain anti-State propaganda on YouTube.

The request was made after the authority reported the re-occurrence of advertising clips which were attached to video clips containing illegal and malicious content.

The list of firms provided by the authority included Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, FPT Digital Retail Joint Stock Company, Grab Company Limited, Samsung Vina Electronics Co. Ltd, Shopee Limited Company, Việt Nam Food and Beverages Service Co. Ltd, Japanese International Eye Hospital, California Fitness and Yoga Centre, Yamaha Motor Vietnam Co. Ltd, and many others.

On June 7, the authority announced violations of Việt Nam’s laws by Google and YouTube. 
Google was found to loosely manage its content, allowing users to buy ads directly from YouTube and Google without the involvement of domestic ads agents. 
Currently, Google is not applying measures to prevent the republication of violating and deleted clips as required by competent agencies. It still suggests clips with inappropriate and harmful content, which account for 0.1 per cent of the total. 
According to the authority, Google’s advertising agents in Việt Nam, YouTube ads buyers, content creators, and Google's multi-channel network in Việt Nam were also involved in violations.

In early 2017, the ministry found many clips by both domestic and international entrepreneurs containing malicious and anti-government content on YouTube.

Notably, the advertising cash flow earned from these clips was shared with those who produced the clips.

The actions supported the violations of national law in social media content, affecting the reputation and safety of brands and entrepreneurs.

The ministry sent warnings to entrepreneurs and worked with businesses, advertising agents and Google's representatives to take measures to curb the violations.

The situation was solved by March, 2017, but has been found to have re-occurred.

The authority has asked entrepreneurs to actively review their advertising activities on social media and inform the service providers in case they find violations. Entrepreneurs must report any violations before June 17.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), there are about 55,000 clips on YouTube which are harmful or violate the law. Nearly 8,000 of them have been deleted as requested by the authority. 

In the near future, the authority will ask YouTube to identify Vietnamese channels, and only certified ones will be considered for ad revenue sharing. 
The ministry will work with the State Bank of Việt Nam and relevant agencies to closely manage ad revenue flows on YouTube and Google. 
The authority will request YouTube remove the suggestion feature for violating channels, ban users from republishing deleted clips, and partner with the ministry to remove inappropriate clips and channels. VNS