My ex-boyfriend and I dated for three years before breaking up. Recently, he posted a video online showing me being intimate with someone new, accompanied by text intended to "expose" or disparage me.
The post has been widely shared, and the comments from others have caused me significant distress and disrupted my life.
I have asked him to take it down, but he has refused. If I wish to involve the authorities, what evidence should I gather? Furthermore, if he continues to keep the video up, can I seek legal action against him and claim compensation?
Reader Vuong Linh
Lawyer Dang Huu Dang, a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, advises that individuals featured in such videos should secure evidence before requesting their removal. They may also demand that the use of their image be stopped, seek an apology, request compensation, or—if sufficient grounds exist—ask the authorities to take action.
Under Article 32 of the 2015 Civil Code, individuals have rights regarding their own images; the use of another person’s image requires their consent, except in cases specified by law. Article 38 further protects an individual’s private life, as well as personal and family secrets.
Therefore, before asking an ex-partner to delete a post, you should document the URL, account name, timestamp, the video itself, accompanying content, comments, and the number of shares. You can take screenshots, record your screen, or save copies of the content; if necessary, you may also have a bailiff (or notary) create an official record (*vi bằng*) to document the information as it appears online.
This documentation is solely for the purpose of preserving evidence; you should not share or distribute the video any further. Subsequently, you may request that the person who posted the content remove it, and you should also use the reporting tools provided by the social media platform.
Seeking official sanctions
If the person who posted the content refuses to cooperate, the affected individual may file a report and submit the gathered evidence to the competent authorities for review.
According to Article 50 of Decree 330/2026/ND-CP—which takes effect on August 19, 2026—the processing of personal data after collection without the consent of the data subject (unless otherwise provided by law) may result in a fine of 30–50 million VND for organizations. Individuals who commit the same act are subject to a fine half that amount, ranging from 15 to 25 million VND. Violators may also be compelled to destroy or delete personal data that was collected or processed without valid consent.
However, posting someone else’s image without their consent does not automatically trigger the aforementioned penalties. Competent authorities will evaluate the specific nature of the violation by considering factors such as the content, the source of the data, the method of use, the purpose, and the extent to which the information was made public.
Demands for Apologies and Compensation
Beyond administrative sanctions, individuals whose images, reputation, or dignity have been infringed upon have the right—under the Civil Code—to demand that the infringing behavior cease, that the content be removed, and that the perpetrator issue a public apology, provide a public retraction, and pay compensation for damages.
If a video is posted with content intended to seriously infringe upon an individual’s reputation or dignity, the person responsible may face investigation for the crime of "humiliating another person" under Article 155 of the Penal Code. In cases involving the fabrication or dissemination of information known to be false—with the intent to seriously infringe upon someone’s reputation or dignity, or to cause harm to their legitimate rights and interests—the individual may be investigated for the crime of "slander" under Article 156.
Posting a video or accompanying it with negative remarks does not automatically constitute a criminal offense. Investigative authorities must assess the content, the severity of the infringement, the resulting consequences, and the specific legal elements required to establish a crime in each individual case.
According to lawyer Dang, in such situations, the person featured in the video should prioritize gathering and preserving all relevant evidence, while demanding the removal of the content and an end to its further dissemination. If such demands are ignored, or if the posting causes serious harm, the affected party may submit a formal complaint—along with supporting documentation—to the competent authorities to seek protection of their rights and interests.