Phnom penh: 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.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, 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. The first mandate emphasizes relying on official sources, urging that information 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.

The second mandate prohibits fabricated content, advising citizens not to create or distribute unverified reports that could jeopardize peace efforts or undermine the bilateral joint statement. The third mandate focuses on ethical social media conduct, requiring users to avoid provocative posts, insults, or content that incites public misunderstanding or attacks personal dignity.

The fourth mandate introduces a fact-checking requirement, instructing media content creators to verify sources before sharing and to avoid making evidence-free claims that could hinder government negotiations. Finally, the fifth mandate bans manipulated media, specifically warning 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 emphasized that maintaining a clean information environment is essential to securing a foundation for long-term stability and social development between the two neighbouring Kingdoms.