Ministry issue legal alert over deceptive online artefact ads
Chea Sokny | Publication date 05 September 2023 | 20:03 ICT

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has issued a warning of legal action against traders and online sellers who use photos of Cambodian artefacts on social media to promote the sale of art objects.

The use of photographs of ancient artefacts which have been returned to the ministry could create misconceptions among foreign authorities and private collection owners, and may suggest a lack of government regulation of such items, said the ministry’s September 4 notification.

According to the notice, recent observations by officials reveal that some traders and online sellers have been advertising art object sales via social media using images of ancient Khmer artefacts in the possession of the ministry.

“Using archival photographs in this manner is a misdemeanour and a deceptive practice that misleads the public,” the notice explicitly states.

“Furthermore, this behaviour may confuse foreign authorities and former owners of private collections of Khmer artefacts repatriated to Cambodia into falsely believing these items are being traded in the open market due to inadequate government protection,” the notice underscored.

This situation could seriously hinder the process of recovering Cambodian artefacts and undermine confidence in the government, which has diligently worked to locate and have illegally removed objects of Cambodian cultural heritage returned.

Ministry issue legal alert over deceptive online artefact ads

Chea Sokny | Publication date 05 September 2023 | 20:03 ICT
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Artifacts that were returned from the US to Cambodia in July last year.
Artifacts that were returned from the US to Cambodia in July last year. Hong Menea

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has issued a warning of legal action against traders and online sellers who use photos of Cambodian artefacts on social media to promote the sale of art objects.

The use of photographs of ancient artefacts which have been returned to the ministry could create misconceptions among foreign authorities and private collection owners, and may suggest a lack of government regulation of such items, said the ministry’s September 4 notification.

According to the notice, recent observations by officials reveal that some traders and online sellers have been advertising art object sales via social media using images of ancient Khmer artefacts in the possession of the ministry.

“Using archival photographs in this manner is a misdemeanour and a deceptive practice that misleads the public,” the notice explicitly states.

“Furthermore, this behaviour may confuse foreign authorities and former owners of private collections of Khmer artefacts repatriated to Cambodia into falsely believing these items are being traded in the open market due to inadequate government protection,” the notice underscored.

This situation could seriously hinder the process of recovering Cambodian artefacts and undermine confidence in the government, which has diligently worked to locate and have illegally removed objects of Cambodian cultural heritage returned.

Looks like they even got that Andersen Hooper down there crackin' the case:

Didn’t that clown Pieman rob some dead American guy of his presumably stolen Khmer artifacts I recall?