On February 21, 2025, the Government issued Decree No. 24/2025/NĐ-CP, amending Decree No. 98/2020/NĐ-CP, regulates administrative sanctions for violations in commercial activities, production, trading of counterfeit and prohibited goods, and protection of consumer rights.
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Photo 1. Fines of up to 70 million VND for organizations that breach regulations in cyberspace transactions_Hotline: 097 211 8764
Accordingly, Clause 5, Article 1 of Decree No. 24/2025/NĐ-CP supplements Article 53a of Decree No. 98/2020/NĐ-CP, stipulating fines of up to 70 million VND for entities violating regulations in cyberspace transactions.
A fine ranging from 50,000,000 VND to 70,000,000 VND shall be imposed on businesses that establish, operate, or provide digital platform services if they breach any of the following violations:
- Forcing or preventing consumers from registering or using another intermediary digital platform as a mandatory condition to access services.
- Restricting consumer choice by prioritizing certain products, goods, or services on the platform without publicly disclosing the selection criteria.
- Limiting consumers' right to choose by prioritizing the selection of products, goods and services among business organizations and individuals on digital platforms without publicly disclosing the selection criteria;
- Using measures to prevent the display or falsely display consumer feedback and reviews about products, goods, services, businesses, or individuals operating on the platform, except in cases that such reviews violate legal regulations or social ethics.
- Using measures to hinder the registration, operation, assessment, or feedback activities of social organizations involved in protecting consumer rights.
- Preventing consumers from removing pre-installed software and applications without affecting the basic technical features that enable the digital platform to operate normally or forcing consumers to install accompanying software and applications on the digital platform;
- Deceiving or confusing consumers by providing false, incomplete or inaccurate information about one of the contents specified in Point a, Clause 1, Article 10 of the Law on Protection of Consumers’ Rights;
- Harassing consumers through direct or indirect contact against the consumer's will to introduce products, goods, services, business organizations or individuals or to offer to enter into a contract;
- Coercing consumers into purchasing products, goods, or services against their will through force, threats of force, or other similar means.
- Requiring or forcing consumers to pay for products, goods or services provided without prior agreement with the consumer;
- Not compensating, refunding or exchanging products, goods or services for consumers due to mistakes of business organizations or individuals;
- Not compensating, refunding or exchanging products, goods, or services for consumers due to products, goods or services not being in accordance with the registration, notification, announcement, listing, advertisement, introduction, contract or commitment of the business organization or individual;
- Swapping or defrauding products, goods, or services when delivering or providing services to consumers;
- Not providing prior notice or failing to publicly disclose sponsorship for influencers in any form to use their image, advice, or recommendations to promote commercial activities or encourage consumers to buy or use products, goods, or services;
- Preventing consumers from inspecting products, goods, or services unless otherwise regulated by law.
- Requiring consumers to purchase additional products, goods, or services as a mandatory condition for contract agreements against their will.
- Including unauthorized provisions in contracts signed with consumers, model contracts, or and general transaction conditions as prescribed;
- Failing to make a written authorization or contract when engaging third parties to collect, store, use, modify, update, or delete consumer information as prescribed;
- Prepare a written authorization or hire a third party to collect, store, use, edit, update, or delete consumer information without clearly defining the scope and responsibilities of each party in protecting consumer data, according to the provisions of the Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights and relevant regulations.
- Authorizing or hiring a third party to collect, store, use, edit, update, or delete consumer information without obtaining consumer consent.
Important Note: The above fine applies to organizations. In case of administrative violations committed by individuals, the fine is half the fine prescribed for organizations.
Thus, starting from March 1, 2025, fines of up to VND 70 million will be applied to violations in transactions on cyberspace as prescribed in Decree No. 24/2025/ND-CP. Business entities need to strictly comply with legal regulations to ensure consumer rights and avoid legal risks. In particular, acts such as coercion, deception, and restriction of consumer choice on digital platforms will be strictly punished. For sustainable online business operations, businesses need to update new regulations and fully implement their responsibilities under the law.
Decree No. 24/2025/ND-CP takes effect from February 21, 2025.
=> See more: Code of conduct on child protection on the cyber environment
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