- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20982985
- 12 January 2013 Last updated at 00:50 GMT
- Vietnam admits deploying bloggers to support government
- By Nga Pham BBC News, Hanoi
- "Vietnamese propaganda officials have admitted deploying people to engage in online discussions and post comments supporting the Communist Party's policies.
- The party has also confirmed that it operates a network of nearly 1,000 "public opinion shapers".
- They are assigned with the task of spreading the party line.
- The tactic is similar to China's model of internet moderators who aim to control news and manipulate opinion.
- 'Political opportunists'
- Hanoi Propaganda and Education Department head Ho Quang Loi said that the authorities had hired hundreds of so-called "internet polemists" in the fight against "online hostile forces".
- While the exact number of these activists is unknown, Mr Loi revealed that his organisation is running at least 400 online accounts and 20 microblogs.
- Regular visitors on popular social media networks in Vietnam such as Facebook have long noticed the existence of a number of pro-regime bloggers, who frequently post comments and articles supportive of the Communist Party.
- The bloggers also take part in online discussions, where they fiercely attack anybody who they see as critical of the regime.
- On a recent BBC Vietnamese Facebook wall - linked to a story about measures to clamp down on dissent - one such blogger asked why it was that the US "gave themselves the right to criticise other nations on human rights".
- "They should have a look at their own record!" the blogger stated.
- Another post criticises pro-democracy campaigners.
- "The so-called democracy activists and intellectuals are becoming more and more ridiculous. They have shown their true colour as political opportunists. Their despicability has no bounds," it says.
- Mr Loi said such bloggers helped a great deal in stopping negative rumours and had blocked online calls for mass gatherings in the city.
- Vietnam's capital saw at least dozen public protests in 2011, but the number was greatly reduced last year.
- The authorities also employ a force of 900 "public opinion shapers" who help talk up government policies and promote the party line across the country.
- It is not clear whether these operatives, and the bloggers, are on official payrolls.
- But they are being praised by officials as a sophisticated and effective tool in controlling public opinion."
Posted by VNgovpoach on Mon 14th Jan 18:18 (modification of post by view diff)
download | new post
Submit a correction or amendment below (click here to make a fresh posting)
After submitting an amendment, you'll be able to view the differences between the old and new posts easily.