Vietnam: Adopted Order 956 establishing a white list for Online Advertising Providers deemed compliant with online advertising laws

On 23 March 2023, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) in Vietnam issued Order No. 956, which mandates that businesses involved in online advertising adhere to fair marketing and advertising practices. The MIC stated that the directive was introduced in response to the challenges identified with advertisements appearing alongside inappropriate content on digital platforms, including content that is offensive, malicious, or in violation of Vietnamese law as outlined in Decree No. 70/2021/ND-CP. The order introduces a 'White List' of authenticated online content suitable for advertising activities, intending to guide businesses towards compliant advertising practices. This list comprises licensed electronic newspapers, magazines, aggregated information websites, and social networks. This initiative is designed to ensure brand safety and foster a healthy digital advertising ecosystem in Vietnam. It is recommended that businesses enhance their ad placement review processes to prevent association with harmful content and develop their own 'Black List' to further this aim. The MIC plans to update the "White List" periodically, to encourage participation from authenticated entities while removing non-compliant platforms. The Ministry's Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information will provide support for this initiative by collating and disseminating information on identified malicious online entities.