PHNOM PENH: Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra on Monday (May 18) called on Cambodian youth to become “information protection agents” who will resist fake news, digital scams and AI-generated misinformation, as the government launched the second phase of its nationwide “Say No to Fake News” campaign.
Speaking to around 2,400 students at Hun Sen Bun Rany Wat Phnom High School, Pheaktra said young people must not only keep pace with rapidly evolving technology, but also learn to resist manipulation and deception in the digital sphere.
“Youth today must not only follow technological developments for educational purposes, but must also build resilience to fight fake news and avoid falling into the traps of the digital world,” he said during the May 18 launch ceremony.
He urged students to strengthen their ability to help purify the information space, while protecting families and communities from distorted, misleading or socially harmful content.
The second phase of the campaign comes amid growing concern over online misinformation, particularly AI-generated fake content, scams and digital manipulation spreading across social media platforms.
According to the information ministry, the campaign aims to strengthen media and information literacy among youth by encouraging critical thinking, fact-checking habits and responsible digital behaviour instead of the passive consumption and sharing of online information.
The ministry described the initiative as both a “protective system” and a strategic digital literacy mechanism designed to help young people avoid political manipulation, online fraud and cybercrime.
Under the campaign, citizens are being encouraged to verify information through official government sources and professional media outlets before sharing content online.
The programme also promotes the use of two-factor authentication and stronger personal data protection measures to reduce exposure to digital threats.
Authorities further urged the public to refrain from sharing rumours or unverified content and to report harmful, inflammatory or fraudulent online material.
The ministry said the campaign will be implemented nationwide in cooperation with public institutions, private sector partners, provincial authorities and education departments.
Officials said the second phase builds on the success of the first phase, which began in April 2025 and was rolled out across all 25 capital and provincial administrations.
According to the ministry, the initial phase delivered media, information and digital literacy education directly to nearly 10 million people through outreach activities, while awareness messages reached more than 23 million mobile phone users nationwide in cooperation with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
The government said the campaign reflects its continued commitment to strengthening information security and improving digital resilience, particularly among Cambodian youth, as online misinformation and AI-assisted deception become increasingly sophisticated. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
