Six companies have been fined a total of VND535 million (US$23,732) for sending spam messages promoting gambling and providing illegal digital services. — Photo cafef.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Six companies have been fined a total of VND535 million (US$23,732) for sending spam messages promoting gambling and providing illegal digital services. 

The fines have been handed out by the Ministry of Information and Communication's inspectorate board since the beginning of August. 

Three companies were fined VND120 million ($5,323) each, including BiBo Communication Limited Company, Viet Nam Telecommunications and Digital Entertainment Joint-stock Company and NetViet Technology and Services Joint-stock Company.

They were fined for sending spam messages, not providing information on fees or how to cancel services and providing gambling services.

NETIT Joint-stock Company and HRT Viet Nam Communication Joint-stock Company were fined VND45 million ($1,996) each for sending spam massages.

An Hung Phat Investment Joint-stock Company was fined VND85 million ($3,770) for sending spam messages and providing gambling services.

The inspectorate board will focus on these messages till the end of this year, said Dang Anh Tuan, chief inspector of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

At a ministry meeting Nguyen Bac Son, minister of Information and Communications, requested departments tackle spam messages and improve information management on Internet.

The ministry intends to co-operate with other ministries and agencies to control spam messages. — VNS