On the afternoon of 5/2, Tran Luu Quang, Party Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Committee, held a friendly meeting with numerous artists and businesses operating in the cultural industry.

When Tran Luu Quang invited artists to express their "deep concerns" regarding their artistic careers, singer Phuong My Chi recounted an incident where her image was faked and she was insulted on social media. This incident caused her psychological distress, revenue loss, and impacted her creative work.

Phuong My Chi shares her views with Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang. Photo: Tung Truong

In 2023, a sensitive video featuring an image resembling Phuong My Chi was circulated on social media. At that time, the singer refuted the information as false and reported the incident to authorities. According to her, the video showed signs of technological manipulation, specifically deepfake image processing. This application is common in the entertainment industry, using artificial intelligence to create human faces. Beyond Phuong My Chi, many artists have voiced frustration over their images and voices being faked and linked to negative content on social media.

Responding to the feedback, Tran Luu Quang stated, "I deeply share Phuong My Chi's concerns. We will find a solution."

The Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary acknowledged that domestic management technology is currently limited. However, he noted that Vietnam's social media management is relatively good compared to many other countries. He expressed confidence that the situation would be brought under better control, leading to mechanisms that protect and nurture individuals contributing to the cultural sector.

A full view of the meeting between Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang and various units, businesses, and artists. Video: Cong Khang

In addition to listening to artists' sentiments, city leaders also engaged with professionals in fields such as theater, fine arts, museums, and digital content production. People's Artist Hong Van suggested, "The most essential task is to cultivate a future generation of audiences. Otherwise, the stage will decline." The artist hoped to introduce drama to universities, fostering a widespread movement.

Agreeing with artist Hong Van, Phan Quoc Kiet, Director of Tran Huu Trang Theater, mentioned that for over 5 years, the Department of Culture and Sports has annually organized "School Theater" programs. Tran Huu Trang Theater is a core unit tasked with this initiative, helping students understand historical values, ethics, and revolutionary traditions through excerpts, and familiarizing them with cai luong lyrics and art. However, the number of performances has not fully met the demand.

Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang recognized that integrating cai luong and drama into educational institutions is an excellent solution, and he praised the artists' efforts. He proposed that the Department upgrade the "School Theater" program, initially implementing a small-scale pilot for evaluation, and then mobilizing additional businesses for socialized participation.

"The State will allocate more budget to make the program more prominent," Tran Luu Quang affirmed. He urged the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports and other relevant agencies to "treat all businesses fairly and remove any administrative obstacles related to cultural activities in the area."

Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang speaks at the conference. Photo: Tung Truong

The meeting was jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, and other related departments and agencies. Attendees included Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Duong Anh Duc, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Tran The Thuan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports; and Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies.

Hoang Dung