Vietnamese officials are struggling to control the content of Facebook Live videos produced within the country, particularly those which feature online gambling.
Recently, online gambling sites in Vietnam have attempted to attract players by way of the social network’s live video feature, reports Zing. Facebook pages such as Co Bac VIP, or VIP Gambling, use pre-recorded videos of people playing casino games, which are then streamed “live” on the social network to drive potential players to a website where they can gamble. In order to participate in these online games, users must provide their bank details to the dubious websites.
According to lawyer Ha Hai, a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, this type of advertisement is illegal. “It's a disguised online gambling,” he told Zing. “According to the law of Vietnam, gambling is prohibited in any form.”
Though Facebook’s Live function has earned growing popularity in Vietnam, its use for sex, violence and gambling advertising has upset politicians as well as some netizens. However finding solutions to quell this type of inappropriate content is difficult. After much debate, Vietnamese officials recently lifted a controversial ban on nude photos, which aimed to prohibit beauty queens and other celebrities from disseminating such images online, while authorities have also drawn criticism due to a decree, set to take effect on August 15, which intends to regulate the sharing of photos via internet.
[Photo via Co Bac VIP Facebook Page]
