Cambodia Passes Cybercrime Law

Cambodia's parliament passed its first dedicated cybercrime law on Friday, aiming to combat online scam centers that have bilked international victims out of billions of dollars. Justice Minister Keut Rith stated the law is part of a 'cleaning operation' to prevent the return of these illicit businesses, which have negatively impacted Cambodia's economy, tourism, and investment. The law introduces strict penalties, including prison sentences of two to ten years and fines up to $250,000 for those convicted of online scams, money laundering, data gathering, or recruiting scammers. This legislative action follows widespread international condemnation, sanctions from governments like the United Kingdom, and indictments against Cambodia for being a hub for cyber scams. Recent extraditions of figures like Li Xiong and Chen Zhi to China underscore Cambodia's intensified efforts to crack down on these operations.