Vietnam Fines TikToker $300 for Misplacing Cambodia’s Angkor Wat in Thailand

A Vietnamese man has been fined $300 by the Vietnamese government after he posted a TikTok video suggesting that Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex was located in Thailand. The man, Hua Quoc Anh, a makeup artist and content creator, shared a video of his photo shoot at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The video included overlaid images of the Thai flag and royalty and contained the phrase "Hello, Thailand." However, the video has since been deleted.

The Fine and Charges

The Vietnamese government has charged Quoc Anh with providing false information and insulting the reputation of agencies, organizations, honor, and dignity of individuals. He has been fined 7.5 million Vietnamese dong, which is equivalent to $300.

The Vietnamese government emphasized the need for individuals to strictly comply with relevant legal regulations when using the internet and to use it in a responsible, civilized, and progressive manner. The Department of Information and Communication in Vietnam has not yet responded to requests for comment.

In a Facebook post, Quoc Anh expressed his emotions and stated that he is safe after meeting with the authorities. He also shared a photo of himself outside Vietnam's Department of Information and Communication in Ho Chi Minh City. However, Quoc Anh has not responded to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Response and Criticism

Quoc Anh, who has a significant following on Facebook and TikTok, frequently shares posts of his travels and photoshoots abroad. The incident has received criticism from Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. Robertson described the incident as "ridiculous" and suggested that instead of resorting to criminal penalties, people should have simply laughed at the social influencer's ignorance.

Notably, this is not the first time that authorities in Southeast Asia have taken action against individuals for videos posted on social media platforms. In September, a woman in Indonesia was sentenced to two years in jail for posting a video on TikTok that included an Islamic phrase and eating pork. In November, a woman in Singapore was sentenced to a week in jail for posting TikTok videos of her fiancé at a police station.

It is important for individuals to be mindful of the information they share on social media platforms and to respect the cultural and historical significance of landmarks.

Read the original article on Business Insider.

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By: mdescalsota@insider.com (Marielle Descalsota)
Title: Vietnam Fines TikToker $300 for Misplacing Cambodia’s Angkor Wat in Thailand
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/angkor-wat-cambodia-thailand-vietnam-tiktok-fine-travel-2024-1
Published Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2024 06:50:40 +0000