Vietnam authorities crack down on violent 'online gangster' influencers

Vietnamese authorities have launched a series of crackdowns against a group of social media figures known as ‘giang hồ mạng’ (online gangsters) for producing and spreading violent, antisocial content to generate illicit profits.

Key individuals targeted include Phú Lê, Huấn Hoa Hồng, and Phạm Tuấn. These figures gained massive followings by producing web dramas featuring violence, profanity, and weapons, or by engaging in provocative livestreams. Law enforcement officials note that these individuals often leverage their notoriety to transition into commercial roles, such as online selling and charity work, to monetize their influence.

Despite the arrest of primary creators and the deletion of their original channels, experts warn that ‘internet trash’ continues to circulate as other accounts re-upload the content for views. Legal experts and lawmakers emphasize that these actions serve as a warning that social media is not a lawless zone, highlighting the need for stricter platform accountability and faster intervention to break the cycle of ‘violation-fame-profit’ before content reaches a criminal threshold.