The Information Ministry has launched a campaign to combat fake news, which it claims is rampant and is eroding public trust in the government, and destabilizing social security.
Civil society groups and opposition parties are concerned that the campaign may suppress opponents’ freedom of speech.
The “Say No to Fake News” campaign will be carried out nationwide from April this year to March 2026 to change the behavior of social media users and modern media consumers and prevent the spread of fake news. It also aims to ensure people’s right to information, including quality information.
At Tuesday’s launch, Information Minister Neth Pheaktra warned that legal action would be taken against people, including media outlets and digital platforms, which produce and disseminate disinformation deemed fake, with the possibility of revoking their licenses.
“I would like to inform you that if any fake news is disseminated, we will take action by working directly with Facebook and TikTok to block accounts. If the issue is critical, legal measures may be taken,” he said.
“[I] would like to assert that creating disinformation is not a matter of press freedom. Creating fake news is not a right to free publishing but a violation of Cambodian law,” Pheakra said.
The ministry is strengthening its technology by collaborating with Facebook and TikTok to take down social media accounts that publish disinformation.
The Committee for Combating Fake News prevented 3,208 fake news in 2023, which was increased to 3,651 cases in 2024, while 884 cases were registered in the first three months of 2025, he said.
Most of the fake news relates to national security, public order, people’s daily lives, politics, diplomatic, and military affairs, “ill-intentioned” to provoke anger to overthrow the government.
He referred to the case of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development area (CVL-DTA) in 2024 when “fake news” created by opposition groups was made with the intention of inciting unrest and impacting national security.
Senator Kong Monika from opposition Khmer Will Party welcomed the campaign to fight fake news, stating that it could serve public interest, but he raised concerns whether the campaign will be conducted with accuracy and transparency.
“It could become a double-edged sword that affects freedom of expression,” he said.
“We know that in the political context in Cambodia, it is seemingly difficult for opposition politicians to freely express their views, and any measure taken could be seen as suppressing freedom of speech,” Monika said.
Candlelight Party secretary-general Ly Sothearayouth echoed similar concerns regarding fake news created by individuals with the intention of provoking social unrest which is a political rhetoric against democrats, noting that opposition parties also suffer from fake news.
“We are concerned that this campaign could negatively impact the freedom of expression, where the government has been criticized for its crackdowns. This could affect freedom of expression or people exercising their opinion online,” he said.
Sothearayouth urged the ministry to have a clear investigation procedure to prevent and eliminate fake news, and uphold transparency, accountability, and fairness as well as ensure zero political bias and stop targeting opposing voices.
Cambodian Center for Independent Media executive director Chhan Sokunthea supported the government’s approach to combat fake news, as fake news negatively impacts society as a whole.
However, the government must thoroughly investigate the source before taking legal action against individuals who post or express opinions on social media.
“If the government fails to investigate with expertise, it could affect individuals or those expressing opinions seen as constructive criticism, as they might fear legal action from the government, including journalists,” she said.
“I am concerned that the government will use this as a pretext to take legal action against those who dare to issue constructive criticism,” Sokunthea said.
