TikTok, a hugely popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app, will be investigated by Vietnam for hosting "toxic content."

The communist regime places severe restrictions on the right to free speech and frequently represses critics of the government who gained popularity on social media platforms.



The authorities cited data from research firm DataReporter that suggested TikTok has 50 million users in Vietnam.

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Western countries are already putting increasing pressure on the app on worries that Chinese officials could misuse or utilize user data for personal gain.

This week, it was punished in Britain and prohibited from use on government equipment in Australia.

PHOTO | COURTESY Le Quang Tu Do

Le Quang Tu Do, the head of Vietnam's Radio, TV, and Electronic Information, announced that an "inter-ministerial" business inspection would be conducted in May.


Le Quang told reporters that TikTok lacks effective controls over content that violates politics, is hostile to party and state, constitutes fake news, and is toxic content.


He further stated that the lack of control was facilitating the dissemination of fake news, causing losses in economics and social instability.


Le Quang says the ministry asks cross-border platforms to follow Vietnamese laws strictly.


A government delegation would visit TikTok's offices in Vietnam in the second quarter, the Ministry of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, according to Channel News Asia, in February.

Bytedance, its Chinese owners, did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

On Tuesday, the British data protection authorities revealed that it had fined TikTok £12.7 million ($15.9 million) for violating its own rules by allowing up to 1.4 million users under the age of 13 to use the network.


Following similar actions by France, the Netherlands, and the European Commission, Australia banned the app from being used on government-owned smartphones.