Cambodia’s ‘Say No to Fake News’ Campaign Hailed as Success, Gains Regional Recognition

Phnom penh: H.E. Tep Asnarith, Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, announced on Mar. 13 that Cambodia's 'Say No to Fake News' campaign has successfully highlighted the nation's efforts to combat malinformation and disinformation while promoting digital safety for its citizens. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the campaign, launched in April 2025 by the Ministry of Information, was implemented across all 25 capital and provincial administrations to bolster information security and enhance media and information literacy. The initiative specifically targeted Cambodia's more than 14 million active social media users, roughly 78 percent of the population, aiming to mitigate the harmful effects of fake news and shield the public from misinformation. H.E. Tep Asnarith revealed that participants in the campaign produced and disseminated over 12,000 educational contents on social media platforms, generating over 8.4 million engagements and shares. The campaign also leverage d SMS services to distribute educational messages to more than 23 million mobile phone numbers and accounts nationwide, significantly broadening its reach. The campaign's digital outreach was complemented by the organisation of over 500 public events across the capital and provinces, as well as the installation of 61 large billboards in Phnom Penh and other areas to enhance awareness. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving provincial administrations, private sector partners, journalists, social media content creators, students, business owners, and the general public. H.E. Tep Asnarith emphasized that the campaign has served as a critical protective measure for citizens, especially young people-who constitute about 66 percent of Cambodia's population-helping them avoid risks such as online scams and manipulation through fake news. He also noted that the campaign played a role in maintaining public confidence and national unity during the Cambodia-Thailand border tensions by preventing the spre ad of misleading information from foreign sources. On an international scale, Cambodia's efforts have received recognition at regional forums, with several ASEAN countries acknowledging Cambodia as a model for combating disinformation, malinformation, and AI-generated false content. H.E. Tep Asnarith urged citizens to support the campaign by adhering to the principle 'Think, Consider, and Verify' before believing or sharing information, thereby helping to safeguard peace, social stability, and information security in Cambodia.