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A staff member (R) instructs local residents to complete administrative procedures. A new regulation prohibiting filming, audio recording and photo taking at citizen reception centers has sparked debates among many people - PHOTO: VNA
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HCMC - Local residents must not film, capture pictures or record conversations at citizen reception centers if these actions are not specifically allowed by citizen reception staff, according to a new decision released recently, which has sparked a public debate.
Chairman of Hanoi City’s People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has signed Decision No.12/QD-UBND stipulating regulations on citizen reception activities, as well as the disputed regulation.
National Assembly (NA) deputy Bui Van Xuyen, a standing member of the NA’s Legal Committee, yesterday, January 7, told Thanh Nien Online that the new regulation from the municipal government was inappropriate. Locals can film and photograph traffic police while they are on duty, so they should be able to do the same with State employees at citizen reception centers, said Xuyen.
However, filming and recording and the use of these recordings must be in line with prevailing regulations, Xuyen said.
The public can save the videos, recording files or captured photos to ensure their legitimate rights and interests. If they post these videos and photos on social media to discredit citizen reception staff intentionally or cause other damage, they will be subject to penalties, according to Xuyen.
Nguyen Minh Duc, working at the Legal Division at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the prohibition of filming and capturing photos at citizen reception centers goes against the Law on Access to Information, pointing out that the restriction of the right to access information must be stipulated in some essential situations for national defense, national security, public order and safety reasons.
Accordingly, only the NA can limit citizens’ right to access information, Duc concluded.
Moreover, the prohibition on filming and recording has encroached on the locals’ right to collect evidence for administrative cases, where their civil rights were ignored by citizen reception staff, Duc added.
Nguyen Hong Diep, head of the Central Citizen Reception Board, yesterday confirmed to the local media that the Government Inspectorate had issued the same prohibition.
Diep added that the prohibition was intended to prevent individuals from sharing or livestreaming videos or photos on social media for inappropriate reasons.