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Facebook, the Cambodian government and other social media companies are failing to protect users and contributing to human rights abuses online.

Facebook dominates Cambodia’s social media space and, through inaction and neglect, has created a platform that is too often a site of government surveillance and harassment, as well as sexual harassment, discrimination, threats, and other harassment from private individuals.

In a new report, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) is calling on Facebook, the Cambodian government, and other social media companies to do more to protect human rights online. “Status Update: Harassment on Social Media in Cambodia” is a report detailing the findings of a survey of more than 700 people conducted by LICADHO. More than one-third (38%) of respondents had experienced online harassment, with LGBT+ people, youth, and activists facing such harassment at even higher rates. Moreover, 20% percent of women respondents had experienced sexual harassment online.

The report, released on the first day of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, shows that women are routinely targeted with online gender-based discrimination and harassment and are being silenced at disproportionate rates as a result.

“Social media should be a safe place for everyone to share ideas, access information and connect with others,” said LICADHO deputy director of monitoring Am Sam Ath. “But online harassment is pushing people offline. And the harms of online harassment are not confined to screens.”

People who faced online harassment reported negative consequences such as lower self-esteem, problems with friends or communities, offline physical violence, suicidal thoughts, and other harms. More than one-quarter of people who had been harassed online reported fears over their own physical safety or the safety of someone close to them.

The Cambodian government itself is one of the most visible perpetrators of online harassment in Cambodia, frequently harassing, arresting, and imprisoning activists and social media users for their online expression. Recently passed laws are likely to enhance government surveillance and restrict online free expression even further. The report features stories such as that of Dara,* a unionist who was stalked and harassed by an anonymous Facebook user for speaking out on human rights issues.

The vast majority (95%) of people who were harassed online experienced that harassment on at least one platform owned by Facebook (recently rebranded as Meta). Facebook has failed to make all of its basic safety features available in the Khmer language; it has not created an easy-to-use, fast and effective reporting procedure for abusive content; it has not made public how many Khmer-speaking content reviewers work for Facebook; and it has not been transparent about the information it shares with the Cambodian government about its users.

LICADHO shared key findings of this report with Facebook in October and November 2021 and asked for clarification on these and other issues. After acknowledging they received our messages, Facebook did not respond to any questions or follow up further.

“Facebook is failing people in Cambodia,” said Naly Pilorge, LICADHO’s director. “Facebook must take a public stand against government surveillance and harassment, and take responsibility for the various types of harassment that are widespread across its platforms.”

The report shares many stories of online harassment. A video of Sophal,* a child who was filmed without her knowledge while having sexual intercourse, was spread widely across Facebook without her consent. Pheap,* a woman in her thirties, has been relentlessly threatened by an online loan company, to which she had to provide intimate photographs of herself in return for getting a loan. Channy,* a woman in her twenties, has faced discrimination online for sharing about her indigenous culture. Pich,* a gay man in his twenties, has faced relentless sexual harassment online. Each makes it clear that more is urgently needed to curb Cambodia’s increasingly hostile online environment.

As the lives of Cambodians become increasingly dependent on online spaces, the cost of logging off because of online harassment is simply too high. Social media is a key source of information and discussion in Cambodia considering the highly restricted space for free press. Online harassment also has broad impacts on the lives of people who are targeted. It is time to ensure that everyone in Cambodia can fully enjoy their human rights on social media.

* All names have been changed to ensure participants’ privacy and protection from potential retaliation.

For more information, contact:
▪ Ms Naly Pilorge, director of LICADHO, on Signal at +85512214454 (English)
▪ Mr Am Sam Ath, deputy director of monitoring at LICADHO, on Signal at +85510327770 (Khmer)