Cambodia’s Ministry of Information has revoked the licenses of two news websites, fourpowers.asia and sim-news.com, citing serious violations of media ethics and business agreements. The decision, announced on June 18, 2024, was made in accordance with the country’s media law, aiming to protect the credibility and standards of the journalism industry.
The ministry, led by Minister Netra Baktra, stated that the websites had repeatedly failed to comply with media regulations and had breached their business agreements. However, specific details about the offending content or actions were not disclosed. The ministry emphasized that the revocation was a result of repeated violations and failure to heed previous warnings.
Crackdown on Media Freedom
The move is part of a broader crackdown on media freedom in Cambodia. Since 2017, the government has shut down or taken control of several independent media outlets, including The Cambodia Daily and Voice of Democracy. It has also restricted access to foreign media, such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, by blocking their websites or suspending their broadcasts. Critics argue that these actions are part of a systematic effort to control the flow of information and silence dissenting voices.
The use of laws, including those related to defamation, incitement, and national security, has been criticized for being overly broad and used to intimidate journalists. Human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders, have condemned Cambodia’s record on media freedom, ranking it among countries with very low levels of press freedom. Freedom House has also classified Cambodia as “not free,” with low scores on media and internet freedom compared to regional averages.
The international community has expressed concern over the deteriorating media landscape. The crackdown on independent media and the restrictions on foreign media have raised alarms about the government’s commitment to press freedom and the rule of law. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government will balance its efforts to regulate the media with the need to protect freedom of expression.