Cambodia floats new law in crackdown on gangs running scam networks

It aims to prevent criminals from using country as base for global operations

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A scam compound in Cambodia's Kampot province that was used for fraud operations. The government is facing pressure from foreign governments and rights groups to show it is acting against such compounds. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS)

Cambodia is drafting a law targeting online scams, seeking to build a bulwark against criminals using the country as a base to siphon billions of dollars from victims globally.

The new law “will develop an important and clearer legal framework to enhance the effectiveness in the prevention, suppression and crackdown of online scams”, Information Minister Neth Pheaktra told Bloomberg News.

The ministry did not disclose the specific provisions of the draft law, or whether it would explicitly outline mechanisms for international cooperation.

While Cambodia has broad rules that address cybercrime, there is not yet a comprehensive set of laws to address crimes related to scams.

Lawmakers have been discussing a separate draft cybercrime law for around a decade, but it has drawn criticism from rights groups and activists who argue that it could be used as a tool to suppress free speech.