Vietnamese police arrest 11 suspects over violent 'online gangster' films

The municipal Department of Public Security said on Tuesday that the suspects were detained for investigation into their alleged illegal dissemination of information on computer and telecommunications networks under Article 288 of the Penal Code.

The arrests were made on Monday, when police officers, following a period of surveillance and verification, deployed 15 task forces in coordination with other professional units and the mobile police force to raid multiple locations in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

The detainees were among a group of more than 20 people allegedly involved in different stages of producing the films, including scriptwriting, directing, filming and acting, for posting on Facebook and YouTube.

The films featured violent scenes involving props designed to resemble weapons, according to the department.

The group began producing the films in June 2019 and started uploading them to YouTube and Facebook through multiple accounts in 2021 to attract views and likes and make illicit profits, police said.

One clip attracted as many as 2.2 million views.

The department initially assessed that the films contained violent content that could encourage aggression and negatively affect society, particularly young people.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Anh Hoang, deputy head of the department's Criminal Police Division, said police had gathered sufficient documents and evidence to issue emergency arrest warrants for the 11 individuals.

During initial questioning, the arrested individuals admitted to scripting and producing films containing and promoting violence before posting them on social media, police said.

On Tuesday, the department continued working with prosecutors and cultural-sector representatives to assess the images and content posted online and determine appropriate handling measures.

Investigators are expanding the case to identify other people potentially involved.

The city's police urged families and schools to step up education about the Cybersecurity Law.

They particularly advised parents of children aged 13 to under 18 to monitor their children's social media use and prevent them from accessing films containing or promoting violence.

Police also called on relevant agencies to strengthen oversight of websites, YouTube channels and disturbing or violent clips circulating on social media without authorization.