Cambodia - December 2025

The Ministry of Information updated press accreditation rules for 2026 to require a ‘letter of good conduct’ from local authorities and that applicants not currently face any legal actions or formal complaints. The stricter procedures were accompanied by new regulations for the journalism industry as a whole. Press freedom advocates decried the moves as likely to make reporting more dangerous and increasing direct government control of media. Formal registration has become necessary in recent years, as officials increasingly will not speak to unaccredited reporters and rural security forces, and routinely harass those without official documents. Press freedom advocates also stressed that the requirement to keep a clean criminal record is challenging in a country where strategic lawsuits against public participation—frivolous complaints and legal actions—are routinely filed to dissuade journalists from reporting on powerful interests.

Sources: Camboja News, IFEX