During an early 2026 company event featuring lively mascots and special effects, the CEO of HTV Network displayed a Vietnamese sign reading “Doanh Thu Đột Phá,” which translates to “Record Revenue.” Ngo Anh Tan, the CEO, had cause for celebration as HTV had grown to over 100 employees since its launch as an international media company emphasizing authoritative journalism two years prior.
However, an investigation by CBC’s visual investigations unit and Radio-Canada’s Décrypteurs revealed a stark contrast between HTV Network’s public image and its actual operations. Ngo and his team were found to be operating a deceptive AI-driven empire from Hanoi, Vietnam, spreading fake and sensational content on social media platforms worldwide. This content ranged from false stories like Elon Musk banning Teslas in Canada to clickbait posts exploiting tragic events such as the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
The investigation uncovered nearly 200 Facebook pages with over 55 million followers, linked to around 50 HTV-associated websites that earned revenue through ads placed next to misleading political and religious content. Experts, including Fenwick McKelvey from Concordia University, described the activities as “totally deceptive” and highlighted the challenges in tracing HTV’s activities due to its name similarity with a legitimate Vietnamese broadcaster.
The company’s revenue generation model involved mass-producing AI-generated content, such as fake news about events like the U.S. losing its main city to a Russian attack, and directing users to HTV’s websites filled with ads for products like fungus medication and banking services. Despite Ngo denying any knowledge of HTV’s sites or pages, evidence from corporate records and domain registrations pointed to his involvement.
Following inquiries from CBC/Radio-Canada, HTV’s website was taken down, Ngo’s Facebook profile was made private, and digital traces connecting the company to the deceptive content disappeared. Aengus Bridgman from the Media Ecosystem Observatory criticized platforms like Facebook for incentivizing low-quality, engaging content that can deceive users for profit.
The investigation methodology involved analyzing corporate documents, conducting on-site investigations in Vietnam, and using tools like DomainTools to uncover the network’s connections to HTV Network. The probe built on a previous report by the Media Ecosystem Observatory that identified numerous Facebook pages and websites managed from Vietnam, ultimately linking them to HTV Network.
Images and records from HTV employees on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok provided further evidence of the company’s operations, including job postings for content marketers targeting global trends. The investigation also revealed financial details of HTV Network, showing its establishment in 2024 with seed money equivalent to $350,000 Canadian dollars and Ngo Anh Tan listed as the CEO.
In response to the investigation, HTV added a disclaimer to its websites stating that the articles were fictional and for entertainment purposes only. Experts highlighted the role of AI technology in producing large volumes of low-quality content, exacerbated by changes in Meta’s monetization policies. Meta did not respond to inquiries about potential policy violations related to the deceptive content.
The article emphasized the challenges posed by misinformation and deceptive practices on digital platforms, particularly in countries like Vietnam where social media plays a significant role in reaching millions of users. Despite the growing concerns, accountability and regulation for such activities remain limited, as highlighted by experts in the field.
If you have any insights on this story, please contact VI@cbc.ca.
