Cambodia
Cambodia’s political system has been dominated by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Hun Sen for more than three decades. While the country conducted semicompetitive elections in the past, polls are now held in a severely repressive environment. The CPP-led government has maintained pressure on the opposition, independent press outlets, and demonstrators with intimidation, politically motivated prosecutions, and violence.
Research & Recommendations
Cambodia
PR Political Rights | 4 40 |
CL Civil Liberties | 19 60 |
Overview
Cambodia’s political system has been dominated by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Hun Sen for more than three decades. While the country conducted semicompetitive elections in the past, polls are now held in a severely repressive environment. The CPP-led government has maintained pressure on the opposition, independent press outlets, and demonstrators with intimidation, politically motivated prosecutions, and violence. Hun Manet succeeded his father, Hun Sen, as prime minister in 2023, though the former premier still wields significant influence.
Democratic governments and donors must increase and sustain support for those working to defend and promote fundamental freedoms around the world. Failure to do so emboldens autocrats and can result in the loss of hard-won progress.
The events of the past year in places such as Nagorno-Karabakh and the Gaza Strip provided stark evidence that populations without self-determination are at greater risk of extreme human rights abuses or atrocities.
At least 40 countries are holding national-level elections in 2024, and many more will conduct other types of balloting. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of any democracy, and independent and transparent electoral processes are necessary to foster genuine competition and public trust.
Cambodia
A Obstacles to Access | 13 25 |
B Limits on Content | 17 35 |
C Violations of User Rights | 14 40 |
Overview
Internet freedom remains under threat in Cambodia. Ahead of elections that occurred in July 2023, after the coverage period, Cambodian authorities arrested opposition members for their online activities and forced the closure of independent media outlets. Internet users often face arrest for online activity, perpetuating an environment that is characterized by fear and self-censorship. Authorities have sought to establish a single national internet gateway that would facilitate greater censorship and surveillance. Former members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), an opposition party that was dissolved by court order in 2017 and has since operated in exile, faced heightened monitoring, harassment, and imprisonment for their online activities.
Freedom of expression online is increasingly under attack as governments continue to restrict connectivity and block social media platforms and websites that host political, social, and religious speech. Protecting freedom of expression will require strong legal and regulatory safeguards.
Even before the new wave of generative artificial intelligence (AI) products, AI was a key factor in the crisis of information integrity, serving as an intensifier in environments that were already vulnerable to manipulation. However, advancements in generative AI will supercharge the creation and dissemination of false and misleading content.
Governments worldwide have passed increasingly disproportionate surveillance laws, and can access a booming commercial market for surveillance tools, giving them the capacity to flout the rule of law and monitor the private communications of individuals inside and beyond their borders.