The Cybercrime Law in Cambodia

The planned Cybercrime Law Timeline

What is cybercrime law?

The Cybercrime Law is a piece of legislation being drafted by the Royal Government of Cambodia to control Internet activity. The government has been working on a draft of the law since at least 2012.

How will it affect me?

• It is impossible to know for sure, because the government has not released an official copy of the draft law. However, an unofficial copy of the law leaked earlier this year raises many concerns, including fears that the law could:
• Restrict freedom of expression online: The draft law criminalizes content that criticizes the government. This means youth could be jailed over Facebook posts or comments, and journalists could be charged over online news stories. The law will apply to everyone, including people outside Cambodia…
• Allow the government to monitor online activity: The draft law gives a group of government bureaucrats, headed by the Prime Minister, police powers to investigate online crime. This committee may be able to conduct warrantless searches and seizures of computers and smartphones, and may even be able to monitor Internet communications.
• Criminalize smartphones, laptops and tablets: The draft law makes it illegal to own or sell equipment or software that is suitable to be used to break the law. This could potentially be applied to any computer, smartphone or laptop.
• Stifle economic growth: Google, Facebook and others have expressed concerns about the lack of protections for international businesses operating in Cambodia. The draft law could make it difficult for international businesses and telecoms to maintain offices or servers in Cambodia, decreasing foreign investment and job opportunities.

What can I do about it?

• Raise awareness. Start a discussion by sharing the logo and fact sheet on Facebook.

Advocacy Materials

Download these free resources to help with your own advocacy campaign on Cybercrime or Internet freedom.

• • Cybercrime Fact Sheet for Printing – Khmer & English
  • Cybercrime Fact Sheet for Web – Khmer
  • Cybercrime Fact Sheet for Web – English

Cybercrime Resources

• • Unofficial draft copy of the Cybercrime in English / Khmer
  • Asian Internet Coalition’s comments on the draft Cybercrime law
  • Secret Draft Cybercrime Law Seeks to Undermine Free Speech Online by Article 19
  • Consolidated Analysis of the Cybercrime Draft Law by the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia
  • Open Letter on Cybercrime by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights
  • Briefing Note on the Purpose of Cyber Laws and the Drafting Process by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights
  • Open For Business: A report on the economic benefits of free Internet by Dalberg Global Development Advisors
  • Open Letter to the government requesting release of draft laws in English / Khmer
  • Draft Consolidated Comments on the Cybercrime Law in Khmer
  • Unofficial English translation of Prakas establishing Cybercrime Reaction Units

News on the Cybercrime Law

• • Government to install Internet surveillance equipment
    by The Cambodia Daily, Dec. 10, 2014
    
• • Cambodia’s Internet ranked only ‘Partly Free’ by international watchdog
    by The Phnom Penh Post, Dec. 8, 2014
• • Council of Ministers creates ‘Cyber War Team’ to monitor Web
    by The Cambodia Daily, Nov. 20, 2014
• • Cybercrime Law could apply to Cambodians overseas
    by The Phnom Penh Post, Nov. 7, 2014
• • Citizen Journalists Worried by Cybercrime Draft Law
    by The Phnom Penh Post, Oct. 28, 2014
    
• • Cybercrime Draft ‘Ready to be Passed to the National Assembly’
    by The Phnom Penh Post, Oct. 20, 2014
    
• • Rights Groups say Cybercrime Law would Curtail Freedom
    by Radio Free Asia, Oct. 10, 2014
    
• • Activists fear curtailing of online expression
    by Voice of America, Oct. 3, 2014
• • Information expert breaks down Cambodia’s Cybercrime Law
    by Voice of America, July 18, 2014
• • UN Adopts Resolution on Internet and Human Rights
    by IFEX, June 27, 2014
• • Cambodia’s bloggers fear new Internet law
    by Aljazeera, May 4, 2014
    
• • Cambodian Cyber Law could shutter freedom of expression
    by Deutsch Welle, April 21, 2014
• • Cybercrime Law Copies 2001 European Treaty
    by The Cambodia Daily, April 11, 2014
• • Cambodia Technology Adviser Criticizes Cybercrime Draft Law
    by Voice of America, April 15, 2014