Hanoi (VNA) – The Authority ofBroadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information andCommunications on November 28 issued a penalty against media firm WPPMedia Limited (GroupM) for its cross-border advertising violation.

GroupM received a 35 million VND (1,442USD) fine for posting YouTube ads for Procter & Gamble Vietnam Ltd and UnileverVietnam International Ltd with illegal contents according toVietnam’s Law on Cyber Security.  

This is the third penalty for the same violation by GroupM this year. The previous fines were for ads of Bayer Vietnam Ltd andFrieslandCampina Vietnam Ltd.

The department warned GroupM that more severemeasures will be taken if the company continues to violate the law.

Cross-border ads that contain toxic contentsdesigned to sabotage the Vietnamese Party and State have been found recently,which has impacted not only the reputation of businesses, but also created“traps” that cause them to violate the law.

To ensure safety for brands, towards a healthy,safe, and fair competitive advertising business environment for both domesticand foreign firms, the department has been coordinating with ministries,agencies, and localities to step up supervisions and inspections, and handleonline advertising violations.

The ministry has also released a "black list"of “toxic” contents and a “white list” of "verified" contents inadvertising./.