Cambodia to Ensure Safety for Media Covering Online Scam Crackdown

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – A plan to ensure the safety and maintain order for national and international journalists covering the crackdown on online scams has been formulated in Cambodia's capital. On September 22, 2026, Lieutenant General Chuon Narinth, the Commissioner of Phnom Penh Municipal Police, led a meeting concerning the security and order for journalists from 42 media units, including 23 international institutions (totaling 75 individuals), as well as domestic news outlets. These media professionals are tasked with reporting, photographing, and gathering information on the ongoing operations to crack down on online scams in Phnom Penh. They will also visit and report from locations where evidence, such as equipment used in fraudulent activities, is stored, which has been seized by authorities in accordance with legal procedures. According to police authorities, the results of the online scam crackdown campaign from July 1, 2025, to September 8, 2026, led to the suppression of 212 cases, with 3,915 individuals (647 females) from 24 nationalities being detained. Seized items include: 1) 1,061 desktop computers, 2) 923 laptops, 3) 2,064 CPUs, 4) 3,952 monitors, 5) 3,170 All-in-One PCs, 6) 23 iMacs/MacBooks, 7) 29,900 mobile phones, and 8) 64 iPads/tablets. This initiative underscores the Cambodian government's firm stance against cybercrime, particularly online fraud. Ensuring a safe reporting environment for the media is considered crucial for enhancing the transparency of investigations and facilitating information dissemination to the international community. Cambodia has been grappling with an increase in cybercrimes alongside its digital economy's growth, prompting continuous enforcement measures by the authorities.