Speaking at the closing session of the National Press Forum 2026, Le Quoc Minh, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association, stated that amid the explosion of artificial information and the massive information flow from social media, mainstream journalism cannot compete in reporting speed. Instead, it must assert itself through reliability, verifiability, and professional ethics.
Investing in AI applications and automation is a top priority for many newsrooms, aiming to optimize productivity and costs. However, this technology also poses risks concerning accuracy, copyright, and the potential erosion of reader trust. To address these challenges, the Vietnam Journalists' Association has introduced a framework of 10 rules.
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Le Quoc Minh, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association, speaks during a discussion session on AI. Photo: Ngoc Anh |
Le Quoc Minh, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association, speaks during a discussion session on AI. Photo: Ngoc Anh
AI is merely a tool and does not replace journalists. Journalists must maintain control, verify information, uphold ethics, exercise professional judgment, and bear ultimate responsibility for all journalistic products.
AI should not be considered a source of information. All information, data, quotes, or opinions provided by AI must be re-verified from authentic sources before use.
Do not publish unedited AI-generated content. All content must undergo editing, proofreading, appropriate contextual additions, and receive authorized approval before publication.
Absolutely do not create or disseminate false information. The use of AI technology to generate fake news, false data, fabricated statements, or artificial personas, or to distort facts, is strictly prohibited.
Do not use AI to create deepfakes or impersonations. The act of replicating another person's voice, image, or face without permission, or using them to deceive the public, is strictly prohibited.
Protect sources and personal data. Confidential documents, unpublished drafts, source data, internal information, or sensitive personal data must not be uploaded to public AI systems.
Respect copyright. Do not abuse AI to copy, rewrite, or illegally exploit others' works to circumvent copyright obligations.
Be transparent when using AI. Content that significantly uses AI must be labeled or include an appropriate notice for public awareness.
Sensitive content requires multi-layered verification. For complex, sensitive issues such as politics, security, natural disasters, epidemics, children, or legal cases, AI should only serve as technical support and must not draw conclusions or make inferences independently.
Comply with laws and guidelines. AI applications must comply with the Press Law, Personal Data Protection Law, Digital Technology Industry Law, Intellectual Property Law, and professional ethical regulations. All automation activities must align with the political direction, cultural standards, and development strategies of the news agency.
The Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association affirmed that amid the strong digital transformation, integrity, professional ethics, and public trust remain the most valuable assets of mainstream journalism. These serve as the foundation for building a professional, humane, modern, and sustainable press.
Le Tan
