The “Say No to Fake News” campaign which began in April last year reached approximately nine million citizens, who also helped spread the message to millions more, said Tep Asnarith, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, on March 13.
Asnarith, who heads the secretariat responsible for running the campaign, explained that its goal was to promote information security by focusing on enhancing information and media literacy among citizens, particularly the Kingdom’s more than 14 million active social media users, who account for roughly 78 per cent of the population.
He noted that these efforts are aimed at reducing negative consequences and protecting the public from the harms caused by fake news, ultimately ensuring information safety and building trust within the digital society.
Through the national campaign, participating operators and stakeholders distributed over 12,000 pieces of diverse educational and literacy-promoting content on social media, reaching a total of over 8.4 million followers. Furthermore, educational messages were sent via mobile text messages (SMS) to 23 million mobile phone accounts nationwide.
In addition, Asnarith noted that direct outreach efforts were staged at over 500 events organised in the capital and provincial towns, as well as educational messages displayed on 61 large billboards in Phnom Penh and other provinces.
He explained that the campaign played a crucial role as a shield protecting citizens from the risks of scams, political exploitation and the overall dangers of fake news. It also provided psychological stability and fostered national solidarity during the Cambodia-Thailand border disputes by preventing people from falling into the trap of fake news originating from foreign sources and overseas media.
He added that he has also shared Cambodia’s experiences regarding the fight against disinformation, malinformation and content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), at international forums.
