Prime Minister Hun Sen threatens to block Facebook in Cambodia
- Hun Sen warns he could block access to Facebook in Cambodia after the company said it would remove a video in which he threatened to beat up political opponents.
- The warning comes ahead of a widely criticized election on July 23.
- Facebook announced it would remove Hun Sen’s video in line with a ruling by the Oversight Board for Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
- Tech experts see this move as a turning point in the regulation of politicians’ online behavior.
- Hun Sen urges Cambodians to download other social media platforms that are more difficult to police, such as Telegram, TikTok, Line, Viber, and Meta-owned WhatsApp.
Reaction and implications
- Human Rights Watch describes the situation as a “face-off between Big Tech and a dictator over human rights issues.”
- Experts believe Meta’s decision is better late than never but highlight the slow response time.
- Hun Sen’s threat to block Facebook could revive plans for a national internet gateway, which would give the government control over all web traffic.
- Cambodians rely heavily on Facebook as it is considered the whole internet.
- There are mixed reactions to the threat, with some expressing concerns about the impact on small businesses, while others support it.
- The decision could lead to an increase in demand for virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent online censorship in Cambodia.
Conclusion
The threat by Prime Minister Hun Sen to block Facebook in Cambodia highlights the power struggle between Big Tech and authoritarian leaders over human rights issues. While the decision by Facebook’s Oversight Board to remove Hun Sen’s video is a positive step, the slow response time raises questions about the effectiveness of content moderation. It is crucial for tech companies to hold politicians accountable for their online behavior. This situation also underscores the heavy reliance on Facebook in Cambodia and the potential consequences a ban could have for small businesses and internet access in the country. It is important to support digital rights and find ways to ensure people can access the internet freely and securely, especially in the face of threats to block key platforms.
Original Article: https://www.rawstory.com/cambodian-pm-threatens-to-block-facebook-access/