Siem reap: Fake news poses a serious and growing threat to global peace and stability, Mr. Sok Thul, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap province, declared this morning at the launch of a provincial ‘Say No to Fake News’ campaign. Mr. Sok Thul underscored that malicious actors are exploiting social media to spread misinformation, incite hostility, and defame the Royal Government for political, corrupt, or commercial gain.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, he highlighted the particular vulnerability of young people to online disinformation and warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating this threat, enabling the creation of deceptive content to manipulate public opinion. The deputy governor directly linked the spread of fake news to broader global challenges. ‘In an era of geopolitical and economic uncertainty,’ he stated, ‘the proliferation of false information undermines our collective efforts to safeguard peace and stability, fueling hate speech, discrimination, and social disorder.’
The event in Siem Reap city marks the sixth provincial launch under the nationwide ‘Say No to Fake News!’ initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Information. The campaign is a core part of the Royal Government’s strategy to ensure information security for the public. Mr. Yoeun Chan, Deputy Head of the Siem Reap Provincial Information Department, outlined the Royal Government’s strategy to combat misinformation. He emphasised that countering fake news is a global imperative that requires robust mechanisms, advanced technology, and active public participation.
The scale of the challenge is significant. The Ministry of Information’s Anti-Fake News Commission recorded and countered 3,651 cases of fake news in 2024, a 14 percent increase from the 3,208 cases handled in 2023. The campaign, which will run for a year and expand to all of Cambodia’s 25 municipalities and provinces by March 2026, aims to enhance public media literacy, strengthen journalistic ethics, and ultimately minimise fake news to the lowest level possible. The ultimate goal, Mr. Yoeun Chan concluded, is to ensure all citizens have access to accurate, reliable, and safe information.