AKP Phnom Penh, January 03, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Information issued a formal directive on Saturday calling for responsible social media use and the prevention of "fake news" to support ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve border tensions with Thailand.

The directive follows the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) held on Dec. 27, 2025. In the meeting’s Joint Statement, both nations agreed to curb the spread of misinformation to reduce public friction and create a "favourable environment for peaceful dialogue."

As Cambodia and Thailand work toward establishing a permanent ceasefire, the Ministry outlined five key mandates for the public and media professionals:

• Rely on Official Sources: Information should be verified through top national leaders or official government bodies, including the ministries of defence, foreign affairs and international cooperation, information, interior, as well as the border affairs secretariat and the spokesperson unit of the Royal Government.

• Prohibit Fabricated Content: Citizens are urged not to create or distribute unverified reports that could jeopardise peace efforts or undermine the bilateral joint statement.

• Ethical Social Media Conduct: Users must avoid provocative posts, insults, or content that incites public misunderstanding or attacks personal dignity.

• Fact-Checking Requirement: Media content creators are required to verify sources before sharing and avoid making evidence-free claims that could hinder government negotiations.

• Ban on Manipulated Media: The Ministry specifically warned against using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create "deepfakes" or edited videos intended to incite racial discrimination, hostility, or anger.

"The Ministry of Information believes that the active participation of citizens in spreading the truth and preventing fake news will contribute to the full implementation of this agreement," the statement read.

The Royal Government emphasised that maintaining a clean information environment is essential to securing a foundation for long-term stability and social development between the two neighbouring Kingdoms.

By K. Rithy Reak