Vietnam to inspect TikTok starting mid-May

Le Quang Tu Do, head of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, said the Ministry of Information and Communication would cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Security and the General Department of Taxation to perform extensive checks on TikTok’s operations in Vietnam.

Issues like content distribution, taxation, e-commerce and advertisements are expected to be investigated.

In April, the information ministry said several videos with "toxic content" had appeared on TikTok, but the platform failed to properly deal with them. As one of the most popular social media platforms in Vietnam, TikTok had used its algorithms to spread toxic content, the ministry added.

The ministry said there had been no measures to manage content that harms the Party and the state, or is dangerous for children.

TikTok’s algorithms also automatically create trends and spread content, even if such content is damaging to the community, it added.

A representative of TikTok in Vietnam said the platform welcomed inspectors as it was a chance to listen to feedback from the government for better operations in the future.