Ministry of Information Reports 1,700 Fake News Cases Tied to Cambodia–Thailand Dispute
Ministry of Information Reports 1,700 Fake News Cases Tied to Cambodia–Thailand Dispute
PHNOM PENH, May 6, 2026 — Cambodia recorded nearly 4,000 cases of fake news in 2025, including around 1,700 linked to tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border, as authorities intensified efforts to combat disinformation and strengthen digital information security, the Ministry of Information said.
The figures were disclosed in the ministry’s annual report titled The State of Press Freedom in Cambodia, which outlined government measures aimed at countering misinformation and improving public awareness.
The report said false information connected to the Cambodia–Thailand border situation accounted for nearly half of all detected fake news cases last year, amid heightened regional tensions and online information warfare.
Authorities also identified AI-generated content among the misinformation cases, alongside toxic online material, insults targeting national leaders and disinformation campaigns intended to create confusion and undermine public trust.
In response, Cambodia expanded its nationwide “Say No to Fake News” campaign, launched in April 2025, in cooperation with municipal and provincial authorities across the country.
The campaign focused heavily on improving media literacy among Cambodia’s more than 14 million social media users, who represent roughly 78% of the population, officials said.
The Ministry of Information worked alongside the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to distribute educational messages to more than 23 million mobile phone users, while state and private media outlets collectively produced around 9,000 awareness materials aimed at helping citizens identify and avoid misinformation.
The government’s Anti-Fake News Committee was tasked with monitoring online content, issuing clarifications and debunking false claims circulating on social media platforms.
Authorities said ministries including Information, Interior, and Post and Telecommunications coordinated efforts to strengthen digital security and manage public information during sensitive periods, particularly during alleged foreign military incidents and border-related tensions.
Officials said the campaign helped reduce the influence of false information among vulnerable groups, especially young people, who make up approximately two-thirds of Cambodia’s population.
Information Ministry spokesman Tep Asnarith said millions of Cambodians participated in spreading awareness about the dangers of fake news both domestically and internationally.
He added that Cambodia’s approach to combating online disinformation has drawn recognition from several ASEAN countries as a potential regional model for addressing fake news and strengthening information resilience.
