9/14/23, 10:42 AM Cambodia: Problematic laws and restrictions on information are threatening digital rights · Global Voices taken down and recommended that the prime minister be suspended from Facebook’s platforms. In response, the government has threatened to block Facebook and barred [https://english.news.cn/20230704/677112c559a645b1ad46cabd249d90a8/c.html] Oversight Board members from entering the country. The government’s retaliatory actions are in line with its previous moves to restrict access to information by blocking websites or ordering the shutdown of critical media. In February, the government ordered the shutdown [https://engagemedia.org/2023/cambodia-voicedemocracy-shutdown/] of Voice of Democracy, one of the country’s last remaining independent news organisations. This follows a series of shutdowns over the years, including the Cambodia Daily [https://globalvoices.org/2017/08/27/cambodia-shutdown-of-six-media-outlets-tax-andlicensing-issue-or-censorship/] in 2017 and over 30 independent radio stations. To avoid being targeted by government authorities, journalists may be more cautious or self-censor their reporting on public interest issues. Moving forward In January 2022, civil society groups convened the Digital Rights Working Group (DRWG) [https://www.camboja.net/national-conference-ondigital-rights-and-internet-freedom-in-cambodia/] to tackle digital rights and internet freedom in Cambodia. The group analyses and monitors the government’s control over the flow of information on online platforms, its imposition of aggressive cyber-policing, the blocking of websites and associated social media accounts, and increasing online surveillance. Multi-stakeholder cooperation is important to tackle the concerning digital rights violations in Cambodia. The DRWG’s role is critical as it works with the regional and international community and connects with various stakeholders to explore ways to further protect and promote digital rights. It is also important for the international community to have open dialogues with the government on digital rights issues to ensure that enacted policies do not restrict and infringe on digital rights. This site is licensed as Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/] . Please read our attribution policy [http://globalvoicesonline.org/about/global-voices-attribution-policy/] to learn about freely redistributing our work Some Rights Reserved [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/] https://globalvoices.org/2023/08/21/cambodia-problematic-laws-and-restrictions-on-information-are-threatening-digital-rights/ 3/3