CPP rolls out plan to address fake news

THE Cambodian People’s Part y (CPP) has laid out a monthly plan for its ongoing battle against fa ke news i n an attempt to quell misleading information t hat could lead to politica l or economic subversion.

In a memo dated May 1, the CPP said: “As the Kingdom struggles against Covid-19, opponents are still attempting to disseminate propaganda to exploit politics wit h no concern for the welfare of t he people.”

The memo said the CPP launched a timely counterattack on fake news last month when opponents fabricated information to intimidate people and trouble the nation.

It said the CPP has been able to control t he situation due to the government’s abilit y to introduce appropriate, timely and responsive strategic principles.

The memo said living conditions remain normal and the economy remains sustainable, even though the government had to apply some economic restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The CPP, it said, has also laid out a plan to explain the new state of emergency law which was recently passed by the National Assembly.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Ministry of Information spokesman Phos Sovann told The Post on Wednesday that the number of fake news stories had decreased.

To help stop the spread of fa ke news from overseas, the ministr y taught people how to analyse dif ferent t y pes of fa ke news, Facebook pages, and accounts.

Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute director Kin Phea told The Post on Wednesday that fake news stories had been emerging on social media.

He said the spread of fa ke news af fects multiple aspects of societ y, including the economy and the handling of the pandemic.