Database

Browse Database

CAMBODIA

Since July 2012

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Circular 004 MEF on the Procedures for Low Value Goods
According to Circular 004 MEF on the Procedures for Low Value Goods, the de minimis threshold, that is, the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 50, below the USD 200 threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Coverage Horizontal

CAMBODIA

Since February 2021

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Requirement to allow the government to access personal data collected
Sub-Decree No. 23 on the Establishment of National Internet Gateway (អនុក្រឹត្យលេខ ២៣ ស្ដីពីការបង្កើតច្រកទ្វារអ៊ីនធឺណិតជាតិ)
It is reported that some articles of Sub-Decree No. 23 may require the government to have direct access to personal data collected. Art. 14 establishes that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) and Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) can monitor the infrastructure, connections, and equipment of the National Internet Gateway (NIG). NIG refers to the gateway through which all Internet services must be connected, both nationally and internationally (Annex 1). NIG operators shall:
- Prepare and maintain technical records, IP Address allocation table, and route identification of traffic transiting through NIG;
- Compile and maintain reports and relevant documents concerning the connections and all Internet traffic;
- Provide other information as required by the MPTC and TRC.
It is reported that, although the law is in force, it has not yet been implemented in practice.
Coverage National Internet Gateway operators
Sources

CAMBODIA

Since November 2019, entry into force in May 2020

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
E-Commerce Law (ច្បាប់ស្តីពី ពាណិជ្ជកម្មតាមប្រព័ន្ធអេឡិចត្រូនិក)
The E-commerce Law establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Art. 24 of the law, internet intermediaries are not liable for unlawful third-party content on their online platforms. However, they must comply with mandatory content-removal procedures upon becoming aware of such content (Art. 25). Additionally, pursuant to Art. 27, intermediaries are obligated to comply with an e-commerce code of conduct.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

CAMBODIA

Since November 2019, entry into force in May 2020

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
E-Commerce Law (ច្បាប់ស្តីពី ពាណិជ្ជកម្មតាមប្រព័ន្ធអេឡិចត្រូនិក)
The E-commerce Law establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringements. According to Art. 24 of the law, internet intermediaries are not liable for unlawful third-party content on their online platforms. However, they must comply with mandatory content-removal procedures upon becoming aware of such content (Art. 25). Additionally, pursuant to Art. 27, intermediaries are obligated to comply with an e-commerce code of conduct.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

CAMBODIA

Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator User identity requirement
Mandatory SIM card registration
It is reported that Cambodia requires identity verification for SIM card registration. Individuals seeking to purchase a SIM card must present a national identity card or, for foreign nationals, a passport to activate a new prepaid SIM. This requirement has reportedly existed since 2012, although its implementation remained incomplete for several years.
In August 2022, the authorities issued a final warning directing all telecommunications operators to ensure full SIM registration by 2023. This framework was subsequently formalised through Sub-Decree No. 41 on Equipment Identity Registration, issued in February 2023, which established a SIM identification registration system and a national database to support regulatory compliance.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

CAMBODIA

Since May 2018

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Monitoring requirement
Inter-Ministerial Proclamation No. 170 on the Management of Web-Based Advertising and Social Media in the Kingdom of Cambodia (ប្រកាសអន្តរក្រសួងលេខ ១៧០ ស្តីពី ការគ្រប់គ្រងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយតាមគេហទំព័រ និងបណ្តាញទំនាក់ទំនងសង្គម ដែលដំណើរការតាមប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ីនធឺណិត នៅព្រះរាជាណាក្រកម្ពុជា)
Clause 7 of the Inter-ministerial Prakas No. 170 requires all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating in Cambodia to install software programs and equip themselves with Internet surveillance tools to easily filter and block any social media accounts or pages that run their business activities and/or publicise illegal activities. In addition, Clause 6 establishes that the Ministry of Information should manage information published through electronic systems, including all news content, written messages, audio, photos, videos, and/or other means, on websites and social media using the internet in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Coverage Internet Service Providers

CAMBODIA

Since May 2018
Since December 2015

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Inter-Ministerial Proclamation No. 170 on the Management of Web-Based Advertising and Social Media in the Kingdom of Cambodia (ប្រកាសអន្តរក្រសួងលេខ ១៧០ ស្តីពី ការគ្រប់គ្រងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយតាមគេហទំព័រ និងបណ្តាញទំនាក់ទំនងសង្គម ដែលដំណើរការតាមប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ីនធឺណិត នៅព្រះរាជាណាក្រកម្ពុជា)

Law on Telecommunications (ច្បាប់ ស្តីពី ទូរគមនាគមន៍)
According to Section 7 of Inter-ministerial Prakas No. 170, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) may block or close websites and social media pages that disseminate content deemed illegal, including that which incites unrest or threatens national security, public interest, or social order. However, these grounds are not clearly defined. Similarly, Art. 7 of the Law on Telecommunications authorises the MPTC or other ministries to instruct telecom operators to take unspecified necessary measures in cases of "force majeure", without defining such circumstances or actions. Both provisions have been criticised for their broad scope and potential for misuse, including the restriction of internet-based services.
Moreover, news and other websites have reportedly been blocked by the Cambodian government. In April 2020, two websites owned by TVFB were reportedly blocked by the Cambodian Telecommunication Regulator (TRC) and remain inactive. In February 2023, the TRC instructed internet service providers to block access to VOD’s news sites in both English and Khmer, following the revocation of its parent organisation’s licence. In the lead-up to the July 2023 general election, access to independent outlets such as Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Cambodia Daily, and Kamnotra was also blocked, with restrictions remaining in place until the end of 2024.
Coverage Social media, news and other websites
Sources

CAMBODIA

Since November 2019
Since November 2022

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Restrictions on online advertising
Royal Code No. NS/RKM/1119/016, Law on Consumer Protection (ច្បាប់ ស្តីពី កិច្ចការពារអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់)

Sub-Decree No. 232 on the Management of the Advertisement of Goods and Services (អនុក្រឹត្យលេខ ២៣២ អនក្រ.បក ស្តីពីការគ្រប់គ្រងការផ្សាយពាណិជ្ជកម្មទំនិញ និងសេវាកម្ម)
Art. 27.2 of the Law on Consumer Protection mandates that any advertising must be in Khmer. Furthermore, Art. 9 of Sub-Decree No. 232 requires all commercial advertising of products and services, by any channel, to use Khmer as the primary language. If foreign-language text is used in advertisements, it must comply with the Sub-Decree rules on placement and font size to ensure the Khmer text retains its prominence. It is reported that the Khmer language requirement can be an onerous obligation for some businesses.
Coverage Horizontal

CAMBODIA

Since December 2015

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law on Telecommunications (ច្បាប់ ស្តីពី ទូរគមនាគមន៍)
Art. 15 of the Law on Telecommunications provides that a license from the Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) is required for the provision of VoIP and Internet café services.
Coverage VoIP and Internet café services

CAMBODIA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Presence of an independent telecom authority
It is reported that the Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

CAMBODIA

Since December 2015

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law on Telecommunications (ច្បាប់ ស្តីពី ទូរគមនាគមន៍)
Art. 99 of the Law on Telecommunications introduces sentences of six months to two years imprisonment and heavy financial penalties for “any act of producing, installing or distributing software or hidden audio recorders for recording dialogue” without approval from the authorities. It is reported that this unclear provision, which seems to require government approval for any software that can record sound, could potentially criminalise the basic use, sharing, or development of software such as smartphone apps. Additionally, the range of sound-recording hardware concerned with this provision is unclear.
Coverage Software recording sound

CAMBODIA

Since May 2005, last amended in January 2022

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Law on Commercial Enterprise (ច្បាប់ស្តីពីសហគ្រាសពាណិជ្ជកម្មជាភាសាខ្មែរ)
Pursuant to Art. 109 of the Law on Commercial Enterprises, a company is required to prepare and maintain at its registered office in the Kingdom of Cambodia the following corporate records: the articles of incorporation and by-laws, together with any amendments thereto; minutes of meetings and resolutions of shareholders; copies of all notices mandated by law to be issued or filed; and a register of securities. In addition, in accordance with Art. 113, a company must also prepare and retain adequate accounting records for a minimum period of ten years following the conclusion of the financial year to which such records pertain. In instances where these accounting records are maintained outside Cambodia, duplicate copies must be preserved at the company’s registered office within the country.
Coverage Horizontal

CAMBODIA

Since July 2007

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Law on Customs (ច្បាប់គយ និងបទប្បញ្ញត្តិ)
Art. 51 of the Law on Customs stipulates that all individuals or entities engaged in the import or export of goods must maintain accurate documentation, including books, records, and other information, in both digital and traditional formats. These records must be retained for a minimum of 10 years at the business premises in Cambodia. This obligation extends to importers, exporters, customs brokers, operators of customs temporary storage facilities and customs bonded warehouses, transportation operators, and other relevant parties.
Coverage Entities engaged in the import or export of goods

CAMBODIA

Since December 2021

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Infrastructure requirement
Sub-Decree No. 287 on Management and Use of National Domain Names on the Internet (អនុក្រឹត្យលេខ ២៨៧ អនក្រ.បក ស្តីពី ការគ្រប់គ្រងនិងការប្រើប្រាស់ឈ្មោះដែនជាតិក្នុងប្រព័ន្ធអុីនធឺណិត)
Art. 6 of Sub-Decree No. 287 stipulates that ministries and governmental institutions intending to utilise the national domain name designated for such entities must store their data within the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is responsible for hosting and storing the data of all ministries and governmental institutions using national domain names, either in the national data centre or in a government-operated data centre.
Coverage Public sector

CAMBODIA

N/A

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of participation in agreements with binding commitments on data flows
Cambodia has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders. Art. 12.15 of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) recognises that each party may maintain its own regulatory requirements governing cross‑border transfers of information by electronic means and stipulates that such transfers shall not be restricted when undertaken for the conduct of business by a covered person; however, the article simultaneously allows parties to adopt or maintain any measures they themselves deem necessary to achieve a legitimate public policy objective, as well as any measures necessary to protect essential security interests, with the parties expressly affirming that the determination of such necessity lies solely with the implementing party and that such measures shall not be subject to dispute. It is reported that this formulation enables the parties to preserve their domestic data‑control regime under the rubric of national security without risking inter‑state disputes, and that the relative weakness of Chapter 12 renders its provisions largely ineffectual in facilitating the liberalisation of cross‑border data flows, particularly because the clause entrusting necessity assessments to the implementing party effectively permits any measure to be characterised as legitimate at that party’s discretion.
Coverage Horizontal

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