It is not new that statements on social media and internet forums are examined by the Cambodian authorities, but it is a good idea to pay attention to government pressure points, and a clampdown on "fake news" on the internet is meriting particular attention at the moment. So, please use your common sense

June 5, 2020
Police officers told to monitor all social media posts
National Police chief General Neth Savoeun today urged all officers to monitor social media platforms such as Facebook for posts by ill-intentioned groups who attack the government.

During a monthly meeting at National Police Headquarters, Gen Savoeun instructed all police officers to pay attention to maintaining security, public safety, and especially prevent hostile groups who attempt to overthrow the government, National Police spokesman Lieutenant General Chhay Kim Khoeun said.

“General Neth Savoeun has instructed us to monitor social media platforms such as Facebook for public opinion, both constructive criticism and hostile posts by groups out to attack the government,” Lt Gen Kim Khoeun said. “We will accept truthful criticism and we will act immediately against those who have ill-intentions to attack on the government.”

He called on social media platform users to post information to serve social interests rather than to destroy society.

“We will take legal action against those who insult the King, post untrue information or incite people not to repay their bank debts,” Lt Gen Kim Khoeun said “They use Facebook to destroy society, so police will take legal action.”

Last week, Interior Minister Sar Kheng slammed former opposition party leader Sam Rainsy for instigating people to start a civil disobedience campaign to obtain debt relief and to stop servicing loans.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50730432/p ... dia-posts/

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:41 pm incite people not to repay their bank debts,

interesting

IMHO the banks need to take their share of this shit-show
you can't forcibly halt business and then expect them to keep paying loans and rents as though nothing happened

Fake news is a problem for all of us in the era of social media. I have no problem with governments trying to crack down on it.

The problem lies with who decides if something is fake news or genuine comment or critisism. Many things can be interpreted in many different ways on both sides. It's a hard nut to crack.

When it's clearly fake and designed to stir up trouble, of course governments need to stamp down on it. But I worry about governments taking it too far and using "anti-fake news" laws to control the narrative.

This is an issue that all countries face, not just Cambodia.

Cambodia News, Battambang: A young man from Chamkar Speu village has made a mistake by sharing false information and posting derogatory comments on a Facebook account.
On Friday, June 5, 2020, he came to the Ministry of Interior's IT department to admit guilt, so the young man was educated and allowed to go home.

The youth admitted that he had made a mistake in sharing false information and posting offensive content on his Facebook account on May 22, 2020, which seriously undermined the honor and dignity of public officials.

After being educated by IT officials, the youth signed a contract to quit the above activities and promised to be a good youth in society .
Also on this occasion, the IT department would like to take the opportunity to urge all citizens to avoid the distribution of false information.

Did they give a precise definition of "attack the government" or "undermine the dignity and honour of public service officials"? Sounds a bit vague.

January 28, 2021
Information Ministry to expand monitoring on social media
Sar Socheath / Khmer Times

The Ministry of Information will expand its monitoring of social media posts to include more platforms.

Director-general of Information and Broadcasting Phos Sovann said besides posts on COVID-19 and vaccines, there have been no other concerns over fake news so far this year, but the ministry will expand its social media monitoring.

There are different social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, but last year, the ministry prioritised Facebook as many people used it.

According to social media analytic website NapoleonCat, as of December 2020, Facebook had recorded 11,786,000 users in Cambodia, or 69.5 percent of the entire population.

In 2020, there were 1,343 cases of fake news, incitement and insults that were found on social media, mainly on Facebook. There were around 200 Facebook accounts that had action taken against them. Some were sent to the National Police while some were also reported to Facebook and to the Ministry of Post for removal, Sovann added.

“This year, TikTok is also on the list,” he said.

“We have observed that TikTok has been used by some people in the wrong way,” he said. “Before, it was just an application that our younger generation used for playing games and have fun, but now we have seen some people are distorting messages from leaders to sow discontent”

In order to ensure people’s connectivity for sustainable development, the ministry will also fight fake news on other social media applications.

Closed-source mainstream social media platforms, including Telegram, WhatsApp and Messenger that actively share different information as groups or individuals are also to be monitored as much fake news has been shared actively through these platforms, said Sovann.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50807854/i ... ial-media/

xandreu wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:10 pm Fake news is a problem for all of us in the era of social media. I have no problem with governments trying to crack down on it.

The problem lies with who decides if something is fake news or genuine comment or critisism. Many things can be interpreted in many different ways on both sides. It's a hard nut to crack.

When it's clearly fake and designed to stir up trouble, of course governments need to stamp down on it. But I worry about governments taking it too far and using "anti-fake news" laws to control the narrative.

This is an issue that all countries face, not just Cambodia.

Kinda like whats happening now in the US. Eh?

Cambodia expands monitoring of 'fake news'
28 Jan 2012
Concern over censorship as TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram and Messenger are added to a watch list of social apps
UCA News reporter, Phnom Penh

Cambodia’s Information Ministry is expanding its monitoring of social media posts to include closed-source platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and Messenger and has added TikTok to the list of open-source platforms alongside Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Director-general of information and broadcasting Phos Sovann said the government was concerned about posts regarding Covid-19 and vaccines but added there had been no concerns regarding fake news so far this year.

Despite this, closed-source mainstream social media platforms, including Telegram, WhatsApp and Messenger, that share information as groups or individuals are to be monitored for fake news that is also actively shared on these platforms, he told the government-friendly Khmer Times.

But defamation and bullying have also emerged as a major headache.

The latest case involves two female tycoons, with police searching for a famous online lotion vendor accused of defaming the reputation and honor of another young tycoon in a Facebook post.
Major Ly Sothy said Ean Siv Mey was being sued by Nim Vannak, owner of a real estate company and a former online vendor, over two posts.

One said: “You became rich because you also sold online products like me. You swear abuse! Beware of your husband dying. Your first husband died once. He died before children. Your last husband died after having two children.”

In December, Ean Siv Mey wrote another Facebook post saying: “I have a mother and a father, unlike you. You do not have a mother or father to advise you; your brain is all dogs. Your brain is stool.”

Ly Sothy said she had been charged with “public defamation and incitement to commit a felony” under Articles 305, 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code after failing to show up in court for questioning.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/cambodia-e ... news/91186#

I'm sure China would be thrilled to help Cambodia excel at monitoring "fake news."

Quite a creepy article here on how China's done that so well within its own borders. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-48552907

when I tried to log back in, a new message appeared: "This WeChat account has been suspected of spreading malicious rumours and has been temporarily blocked…"

It seems posting photos of an actual event taking place, without commentary, amounts to "spreading malicious rumours" in China.

I was given time to try and log in again the next day after my penalty had been served.

When I did I had to push "agree and unblock" under the stated reason of "spread malicious rumours".

So this rumour-monger clicked on "agree".

Then came a stage I was not prepared for. "Faceprint is required for security purposes," it said.

I was instructed to hold my phone up - to "face front camera straight on" - looking directly at the image of a human head. Then told to "Read numbers aloud in Mandarin Chinese".

Facebook rumors are spreading false information on the Covid-19 vaccine in Cambodia, according to the Ministry of Health, who says: Please do not pass on untrue and scaremongering rumors on social media.

Cambodia News, Phnom Penh: The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health, Lok Chumteav O Vandin, has dismissed reports, posted on Facebook about a death caused by the Covid-19 vaccination at a school, which were entirely fabricated by rumors.

The Ministry of Health would like to confirm that at present there has been no Covid-19 vaccines given to school children, and the Ministry of Health would like to ask the authorities to take legal action!