Vietnam introduces 'fake news' fines for coronavirus misinformation

A man uses a smartphone as he walks past a poster warning against spreading 'fake news' on the coronavirus in Hanoi, Vietnam April 14, 2020. Picture taken April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

HANOI (Reuters) - A new decree took effect in Vietnam on Wednesday introducing fines for the dissemination of 'fake news' or rumours on social media, amid the rapid spread of comment online about the novel coronavirus in the Southeast Asian country.

The first COVID-19 cases were detected in Vietnam this January and the health ministry has reported 267 infections so far with no deaths, numbers well below those seen in some other Asian countries.