Vietnam's Cinema Department is reviewing online film dissemination and will act if violations are identified, director Dang Tran Cuong told Tuoi Tre. The October 16 report said specific findings would be announced after the review, rather than identifying an enforcement outcome against an individual operator.
The article discussed a September 25 department document listing 30 entities eligible to classify films for online distribution. That list should not be read as meaning only 30 companies may distribute every kind of film online.
Classification conditions and responsibilities
Citing the 2022 Cinema Law and Decree 131/2022, Tuoi Tre described requirements for businesses, public-service units and organisations to meet classification conditions and take responsibility for content and classification results.
The mechanisms described include a classification council, technical software or another compliant process. Operators must also be able to update classifications and suspend or remove films when competent authorities require it.
For entities not meeting self-classification conditions, the report outlined a route to request classification by the culture ministry or an authorised agency for films without an applicable classification licence or broadcasting decision.
Review remains ongoing
Other duties described include submitting film lists and results through the classification-data system, displaying ratings and warnings, protecting children and enabling users to report violations.
The department said increasingly diverse online distribution had revealed cases of incomplete compliance with conditions or procedures. Its ongoing review is separate from a final finding. Absence from the 30-entity list alone does not establish that a particular person or platform has been found in violation or penalised.