Stakeholders have expressed their optimism about a social listening tool recently launched by the Ho Chi Minh City information and communications agency to collect and analyze public opinion via social media platforms, saying it is expected to bring many benefits to both local authorities and residents.

Doan Huu Hau, director of digital technology at FPT Digital, a consulting company under Vietnamese tech giant FPT Corporation, hailed the launch of the software as a great move in the process of developing the southern hub into a smart city.

This software is capable of collecting data from popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and others, serving as a channel to pool people’s feedback on local issues and facilitating more effective management and social development policies, officials said when launching it late last month.

It is meant to assist organizations in managing and shaping public opinion by monitoring and analyzing trends, opinions, and emotions on social networks. 

The tool particularly focuses on developments involving hostile, subversive, and anti-social groups exploiting social networks and Internet platforms to incite protests against government policies and guidelines.

Hau believed that the advanced technology-powered software would help strengthen interactions between local authorities and residents, as well as enable the authorities to improve their state management by collecting and dealing with public opinion through social media platforms.

To avail the benefits brought by the software, Hau underlined the need to popularize it citywide and provide locals with guidelines on how to be part of its operations.

He suggested that the city expand sources of data beyond newspapers, TV programs, and social networks in order to increase the software’s utility.

The tool should be also introduced in other localities throughout Vietnam, the FPT Digital executive recommended.

Nguyen Thanh Hoa, chief of the municipal Department of Information and Communications’ electronic information division, highlighted the important role of such software at a time when residents’ daily lives have shifted to social networks and a growing number of disputes and scams are linked to social media.

Powered by AI and other technologies, the software possesses the capability to swiftly and comprehensively search for the most-discussed topics across various forms of communication on social networks, including written, picture-based, and voice interactions, Hoa said.

This enables competent agencies to promptly detect, prevent, and address instances of hate speech and fake news, the official added.

The software can also filter out and handle data before promptly sending reports to authorities to work out new policies in response to controversial issues.

Data gathered by the social listening tool needs to be classified and verified in order to ensure the accuracy of data analysis and decision-making activities, said Lam Huynh Anh, who is in charge of communications at a retail business in Ho Chi Minh City.

Anh suggested that the software incorporate features which can quickly respond to hate speech and fake news in order to aid individuals, businesses, and organizations.

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