Campaign Against Fake News Shows Promising Results After Six Months

In a robust push against digital misinformation, Cambodia’s “Say No to Fake News” campaign has demonstrated significant impact six months after its launch, according to officials from the Ministry of Information.

The nationwide initiative, aimed at combating the spread of false information across digital platforms, has reportedly reached millions of Cambodians through coordinated efforts between government agencies, media outlets, and civil society organizations.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith highlighted the campaign’s achievements during a progress review meeting in Phnom Penh last week. “Our multi-channel approach has successfully raised awareness about the dangers of misinformation and provided citizens with the tools to identify and report questionable content,” he said.

The campaign’s digital literacy component has been particularly effective, with workshops conducted in 15 provinces reaching approximately 50,000 participants. These sessions focused on teaching critical evaluation skills for online content, understanding the mechanics of algorithmic information distribution, and recognizing common misinformation tactics.

Cambodia has faced mounting challenges with false information in recent years, coinciding with rapidly increasing internet penetration and smartphone usage across the country. According to the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia, mobile internet subscribers now exceed 15 million in a country of 16.5 million people, creating fertile ground for both information access and misinformation spread.

Social media monitoring conducted by the campaign identified over 3,000 instances of potentially harmful misinformation during the six-month period, with health-related falsehoods accounting for approximately 40% of cases. Political misinformation and financial scams were also prevalent, comprising 30% and 15% of identified cases respectively.

“What’s concerning is not just the volume but the sophistication of some of these false narratives,” said Dr. Chea Vannath, a digital rights researcher involved in the campaign’s assessment. “We’ve seen coordinated efforts to spread misinformation that can impact public health decisions, financial security, and political discourse.”

The campaign’s approach has not been without critics. Some civil society organizations have expressed concerns about potential overreach in content regulation, pointing to the fine line between combating harmful falsehoods and restricting legitimate expression.

Nop Vy, executive director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association, acknowledged the importance of fighting misinformation but cautioned about implementation. “While we support efforts to promote information integrity, any regulatory framework must include robust protections for press freedom and legitimate criticism,” he noted.

In response to such concerns, the Ministry of Information emphasized that the campaign focuses primarily on education rather than enforcement. “This is fundamentally about empowering citizens to make informed judgments, not about controlling content,” said ministry spokesperson Phos Sovann.

The campaign has also fostered international cooperation, with technical support from regional organizations including ASEAN and UNESCO. These partnerships have facilitated knowledge exchange about effective approaches to combating misinformation while respecting freedom of expression.

Looking ahead, officials announced plans to expand the campaign with additional focus on rural communities, where digital literacy rates tend to be lower. The next phase will include simplified educational materials in Khmer language and partnerships with local community leaders to extend outreach.

Media literacy experts have noted that Cambodia’s experience mirrors broader regional challenges in Southeast Asia, where rapid digital adoption has outpaced institutional capacity to address information integrity issues.

“What we’re seeing in Cambodia reflects a global struggle to maintain information ecosystems that support democratic discourse and public safety,” said Dr. Sophea Chea of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media. “The campaign’s preliminary results suggest that sustained, multi-stakeholder approaches can make meaningful progress.”

As the initiative enters its second phase, officials have committed to quarterly public updates on both activities and measurable outcomes, emphasizing transparency in what has become an increasingly important aspect of Cambodia’s digital development strategy.