Cambodia sets up Chinese-style Great Internet Wall
The Cambodian government on February 17 has announced plans to create a state-controlled “national Internet gateway” through which all the country’s web traffic will be routed, similar to such concepts in China and even North Korea.
According to state-aligned media, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has approved the plan by issuing a respective decree that will allow all online traffic to be controlled and monitored.
According to the decree, the new measure seeks to manage Internet connections “to help revenue collection, protect national security and maintain social order, culture and tradition.”
The gateway’s government-appointment operator, which will work with regulators and “relevant authorities” but has not been identified, would support authorities with “measures to prevent and disconnect all network connections that affect national income, security, social order, morality, culture, traditions and customs.”
“Protecting national interests”
Critics, however, have expressed fears that the new system will become a Chinese-style firewall and be used to block content critical of authorities.
A government spokesman dismissed concerns over the gateway called NIG, saying it would prevent online crime and promote “national interests.”
Cambodian Internet service providers have been given 12 months to reroute their networks through the gateway.
Internet subscriptions in Cambodia have soared over the last decade, from five million in 2014 to 20.3 million last year, according to government statistics. Facebook is the most popular social media platform in Cambodia with nearly 11 million users.
The Cambodian government on February 17 has announced plans to create a state-controlled “national Internet gateway” through which all the country's web traffic will be routed, similar to such concepts in China and even North Korea. According to state-aligned media, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has approved the plan by issuing a respective decree that will allow all online traffic to be controlled and monitored. According to the decree, the new measure seeks to manage Internet connections “to help revenue collection, protect national security and maintain social order, culture and tradition.” The gateway’s government-appointment operator, which will work with regulators...
The Cambodian government on February 17 has announced plans to create a state-controlled “national Internet gateway” through which all the country’s web traffic will be routed, similar to such concepts in China and even North Korea.
According to state-aligned media, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has approved the plan by issuing a respective decree that will allow all online traffic to be controlled and monitored.
According to the decree, the new measure seeks to manage Internet connections “to help revenue collection, protect national security and maintain social order, culture and tradition.”
The gateway’s government-appointment operator, which will work with regulators and “relevant authorities” but has not been identified, would support authorities with “measures to prevent and disconnect all network connections that affect national income, security, social order, morality, culture, traditions and customs.”
“Protecting national interests”
Critics, however, have expressed fears that the new system will become a Chinese-style firewall and be used to block content critical of authorities.
A government spokesman dismissed concerns over the gateway called NIG, saying it would prevent online crime and promote “national interests.”
Cambodian Internet service providers have been given 12 months to reroute their networks through the gateway.
Internet subscriptions in Cambodia have soared over the last decade, from five million in 2014 to 20.3 million last year, according to government statistics. Facebook is the most popular social media platform in Cambodia with nearly 11 million users.
