Cambodia Hosts International Conference on Combating Tech Scams, Strengthening Multilateral Cooperation

Cambodia hosted the International Conference on Combating Technology Scams (ICCOS) for two days, from September 23 to 24, 2026, at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. This international conference demonstrated the Cambodian government's commitment to fighting technology-based fraud and ensuring that such crimes do not resurface. The conference saw participation from representatives of 27 countries and 7 international organizations, with over 1,000 attendees. The primary objectives of organizing this conference were threefold: to deepen understanding, strengthen international cooperation, and enhance the exchange of experiences and best practices. It also aimed to foster a call for joint action in combating technology scams. Speaking at the opening ceremony on September 23, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that Cambodia dares to acknowledge and address problems with high commitment. He affirmed that Cambodia would be known internationally for its heritage, resilience, peace, and progress, not for technology-based scams. The Prime Minister emphasized that he would not allow Cambodia's 17 million citizens to suffer from such crimes and that Cambodia would not become a safe haven for online fraud perpetrators. Prime Minister Manet urged international solidarity in the fight against online scams, stating that no country can resolve this issue alone. He also condemned the use of combating technology scams as a pretext for invading neighboring countries, deeming it a violation of international law. On the same day, representatives from the United Nations (UN), INTERPOL, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and China also delivered speeches. These representatives expressed agreement that combating technology scams is a global issue requiring collective solutions. Furthermore, a high-level forum was held under the theme "Technology Scams: An Urgent Global Issue." Speakers included ministers from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, and senior officials from the United Kingdom, Singapore, Vietnam, and several other countries. They highlighted how criminals are exploiting advancements in technology to conduct increasingly effective scams, urging enhanced cooperation between nations on both bilateral and regional levels. Discussions also focused on prevention and investigation, particularly financial investigation and information sharing, to apprehend criminals. Moreover, strengthening cooperation with the private sector, including telecommunications companies, banks, and technology firms, was emphasized to disrupt the digital infrastructure and financial flows used by perpetrators. Other measures promoted included prioritizing victim protection and reinforcing a collective governance framework with participation from society, governments, and ASEAN as a whole to build a barrier against online scam networks. Two panel discussions were also held on the first day of the conference: one on regional and global responses to technology scams, and another on technology, prevention, and cyber resilience. These discussions featured speakers from regional and international organizations. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local