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Cambodia’s telecommunications regulator has blocked online chat platform Discord and membership platform Patreon as part of a wider crackdown on dozens of websites authorities say were linked to online gambling and other illegal activities.
Sieng Sithy, spokesperson for the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, which oversees the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia (TRC), confirmed on Wednesday that at least 31 domains had been blocked, including a backup domain used by Discord and one seemingly linked to cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
The blocked websites had been operating for some time and authorities acted following complaints from users who had lost money, Sithy said.
A list of blacklisted websites circulating online showed the regulator had blocked Discord, Patreon and six other platforms it said were being used in connection with the “illegal trade of goods or provision of services.”
The remaining domains were linked to online gambling, which is illegal in Cambodia.
“This decision was made to protect public interest and social security,” Sithy said, declining to elaborate further.
Discord and Patreon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Binance spokesperson said it is aware that access to certain Binance-related web domains have been restricted in Cambodia.
“This is not unique to Binance and does not affect the security of users’ assets. Users’ funds remain secure, and the Binance platform continues to maintain industry-leading security standards,” the spokesperson said.
The blocking comes amid a broader crackdown on online scam operations in Cambodia. Researchers and investigators have identified scam-related marketplaces and recruitment networks operating on Telegram, which remains widely accessible in the country.
The messaging app has not been included in the latest round of website blocks.
National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun and Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The move sparked backlash from users of the affected platforms, some of whom questioned why globally popular services such as Discord and Patreon had been included in the ban.
One Discord user, who declined to be named for privacy reasons, said some users relied on the platform to earn income through livestreaming video games.
He said he also used Discord to stay in touch with friends overseas and questioned why it had been singled out while other platforms remained accessible.
*This article was updated to include comments from a Binance spokesperson.
