Cambodia Intensifies Anti-Fake News Campaign Targeting Youth

In Poipet province, Cambodia, the second phase of the 'Say No to Fake News' campaign was launched on July 17, 2026. Organized by the provincial Department of Information and the provincial administration, the initiative targeted approximately 1,000 students from Preah Mulong Secondary and High School in Bakan district, aiming to enhance their awareness and build resilience against the impact of disinformation. The event, held at the school premises in Boeung Khnar commune, Bakan district, was presided over by H.E. Tep Asnarith, Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, representing H.E. Net Pheaktra, Minister of Information, and H.E. Nhik Bankheng, Deputy Governor of Poipet province, representing H.E. Khoy Rydaa, Governor of Poipet Provincial Administration. Numerous delegates from the ministry, local authorities, teachers, and students attended. H.E. Tep Asnarith stated that in the context of a rapidly evolving global digital society, fake news has become a serious risk, not only impacting national security, social order, and individual honor but also potentially distorting the perceptions of young people, the nation's future. He emphasized that the 'Say No to Fake News' campaign is not merely general education but a means of building self-defense through enhanced media and information literacy. He continued, urging all young students to be intelligent users of technology. Before deciding to share any information, they should ask themselves: Where does this information come from? Is there a clear official source? What benefits or harms does it bring to society? The ability to analyze, think critically, and resist temptation or fabricated news is the sharpest weapon in combating false information. The Ministry of Information strongly hopes that all students will become highly responsible social media users and goodwill ambassadors, disseminating truthful information to friends, communities, and families to collectively build a safe, dignified, and knowledge-rich digital society. H.E. Nhik Bankheng, Deputy Governor, along with representatives from the Provincial Department of Education, Youth, and Sports, and students, expressed full support for the second phase of the 'Say No to Fake News' campaign. They pledged to actively promote the campaign more widely to raise public awareness about the dangers of fake news, methods of self-protection from deception in the digital age, and to strengthen citizens' capacity to receive and use information with high responsibility. H.E. Nhik Bankheng noted that in this digital era, fake news takes many forms and poses high risks to society. He added that understanding true information is also a part of maintaining security and public order, enabling the province to achieve sustainable development. It is noteworthy that the 'Say No to Fake News' campaign, second phase, under the theme 'Strengthening Information and Media Literacy for Information Security,' was officially launched on May 18, 2026, under the high presidency of H.E. Net Pheaktra, Minister of Information, at Samdech Hun Sen Bun Rany High School, Wat Phnom. This campaign demonstrates the commitment of the Royal Government and the Ministry of Information to building digital resilience and protecting citizens, especially youth, from the adverse effects of fake news. Currently, the campaign is being implemented in educational institutions in 12 provinces and cities: Phnom Penh, Preah Vihear, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Poipet, Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, and Battambang. The campaign will continue to expand its outreach activities to all provinces in the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2026. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local