This study assesses the state of independent media in Cambodia in 2025, covering the period from 01 January to 31 December 2025. It draws on a desk review, an online survey of 109 journalists and citizen journalists, four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and nine Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings indicate that Cambodia’s media environment remains constrained, with pressures becoming more complex and interconnected compared to 2024.  

In the Challenges for Independent Media (CIM) 2025 Report, press freedom in Cambodia continues to decline, with 69% of surveyed journalists reporting concerns about legal imprisonment as the most significant pressure (Figure 3), and 39% experiencing safety concerns in 2025 (Figure 4). 

The legal and regulatory framework remains a central challenge and has at times been used against journalists, contributing to a climate of legal uncertainty and self-censorship. The continued use of broadly defined Criminal Code provisions, particularly incitement and defamation, contributes to this restrictive climate. In 2025, these pressures increased with the use of national security provisions, including Article 445, under which two journalists were sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. New regulatory measures, such as the Prakas on Qualifications and Journalistic Professionalism (2025), have also introduced stricter requirements for press accreditation, raising concerns about barriers for freelance and citizen journalists.