Associated Incidents
Synopsis: Cambodia’s Telecoms Ministry denounced an AI-generated video of Hun Sen, warning it spreads false war claims and threatens diplomatic ties with Thailand.
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) has strongly condemned the creation and dissemination of a deepfake video made with artificial intelligence to represent Senate President Hun Sen. The video, which was widely circulated online, falsely portrays the former prime minister soliciting for money to wage war against Thailand.
In a statement, the MPTC denounced the video as “malicious disinformation and a serious misconduct that must not be tolerated on any digital or social media platforms.” The ministry confirmed that the footage, originally from a June 27 meeting between Hun Sen and civil servants in Preah Vihear province was edited with a fabricated Thai voice track using AI technology.
The altered audio, created by an individual identified as a Thai national, falsely features Hun Sen’s likeness and voice stating: “Hello, I am Hun Sen. I am raising funds to build a military force to fight Thailand. Please transfer 300 baht via TrueMoney, and I will immediately return 50,000 baht to you once we win the war.”
A female AI voice follows: “If you send money to Uncle, you will get 50,000 baht in return, okay?”
Authorities warn the clip, which is 29 seconds long, is part of a scam and designed to deceive the public.
The MPTC reiterated that such actions are not only unethical but also illegal. It said those responsible for creating and spreading the deepfake must be held accountable under Cambodian law.
“This is a clear attempt to exploit artificial intelligence to deceive, defame, and incite,” the statement said.
Previously, the ministry had warned the public to stay vigilant against scams using fake voices or AI-generated messages pretending to be from family members or friends. It called on Cambodians to critically assess videos, voices, and images that appear suspicious and to always verify information with official government sources or credible media outlets.
The ministry urged digital communication platforms, social media users, and content creators to take part in removing the deepfake video and other forms of misinformation. It also called for stern measures to be taken against those producing and distributing such harmful content.
“Digital responsibility is a shared duty,” the MPTC noted. “Together, we must protect the integrity of our information space.”
As Cambodia seeks a peaceful resolution for the border issue with Thailand, false narratives and distorted facts—often spread through social media and other platforms—are fuelling mistrust, inflaming ultra-nationalist sentiments, and complicating diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the dispute peacefully.
False narratives and distorted facts—often spread through social media and other platforms—are fuelling mistrust, inflaming ultra-nationalist sentiments, and complicating diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the dispute peacefully.
Cambodian Centre for Independent Media Executive Director Chhan Sokunthea expressed concern that fake and misleading news would trigger ultra-nationalist sentiment, which would become a hurdle for Cambodia and Thailand in their negotiations.
“The inciting content created by creators in both countries can cause racial hatred and discrimination between the two peoples,” she said. “It not only disrupts the two governments’ efforts in peaceful negotiation but also creates risk for many Cambodian migrant workers who are working in Thailand.”
Sokunthea urged the governments and stakeholders to come up with a mechanism to combat fake news in a timely manner.