5 Best VPN for Cambodia

On a visit to Cambodia, you can take in the beauty of Angkor Wat, dive deep into the country’s history and enjoy yourself in the back seat of a tuk-tuk. The country is bustling with tourists, but you can find hidden paradises where you can fall entirely off the grid. Still, it’s a good idea to use one of our best VPN for Cambodia picks when you’re online.

Virtual private networks are becoming a necessity nowadays due to the increase in censorship and surveillance worldwide. By using one, you can ensure your protection from any monitoring and other online dangers. It can also help you get around censorship and other restrictions, such as geo-blocks.

For instance, Netflix’s library is different in each country where it’s available, thanks to the wonderful Netflix ban.

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So, while Cambodia’s library may have some enticing shows, you may well be missing your country’s version. To get access to Netflix U.S., you’ll need a U.S. I.P. address, and a VPN can help you get one. If you want to skip the hoopla of choosing, just sign up for an account with NordVPN.

The Best VPN for Cambodia: Considerations

The recommended VPN providers in this article have server locations worldwide, and some offer Cambodia options. This means it’s possible to get an I.P. address from Cambodia even if you’re currently in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Germany, Canada, Japan, or anywhere else in the world.

VPN services are generally cost-effective and make your overall internet experience infinitely better. We’ve based our list of the best VPNs for Cambodia on the following standards:

• Has a wide network of servers (bonus points for an option in Cambodia)
• It can unblock geo-restricted streaming services.
• Has a fast and reliable product with minimal downtime.
• Uses rigorous encryption parameters, so your location remains hidden.
• Allows for multiple simultaneous connections.
• Provides top-notch customer support.

Best VPN for Cambodia: Our Recommendations

Online Censorship in Cambodia

Cambodia’s internet freedom has deteriorated under the authoritarian tendencies of Hun Sen, the longest-serving prime minister in the world. The government regularly blocks the websites, especially if they publish information that threatens the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). Pornography and other explicit websites are also the target.

Many news websites have been under the clamp-down, most notably The Cambodian Daily. The news service uncovered many corruption scandals and human rights issues in the country, and its print edition and Phnom Penh office had to close their office in 2017. However, it continues to publish content online from outside the country.

Other news websites faced blockage just days before the 2018 general elections. Thus, there was no opposition coverage, giving Prime Minister Hun Sen and the CPP the upper hand. 

In 2018, the government issued an inter-ministerial “prakas” issued by the government, which ordered all ISPs to install software and equip themselves with surveillance tools to monitor websites and social media. The ISP’s tools would then filter and block anything deemed illegal, discriminatory, or threaten national security.

Social media and messaging apps are freely available. That includes YouTube and Facebook, which are an important news source for many.

Online Surveillance in Cambodia

The Cambodian government not only monitors citizens’ public online activity they also monitor private communications. They can do that because the 2015 telecommunications law has provisions that allow it. 

For example, Article 6 requires telecommunications operators to provide such private communication information to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, without judicial oversight.  

Plus, although Article 97 makes eavesdropping by regular citizens a criminal offense, it allows secret surveillance, with approval from “legitimate authorities.” It pretty much authorizes unannounced monitoring of communications.

The same year, the government issued the 2018 inter-ministerial prakas — which allowed for excessive surveillance because of the required internet surveillance tools — the government ordered that all network traffic in the country go through the newly created Data Management Centre (DMC). We can’t find any updates to that information, though.

The government also requires SIM cards to maintain a system where customers register numbers to their own identity. Still, Cambodians — including some government officials — have resorted to encrypted applications due to communications surveillance risk.

The government previously announced an identification initiative, too. With that, all citizens would be assigned a 10-digit I.D. number, but it has been criticized due to the lack of security for personal information. It was set to start in 2019, but there is no new information about it.

Freedom of Speech Online in Cambodia

Provision of Freedom of speech  is in the constitution’s human rights standards, but there are restrictions. Open criticism of the prime minister can result in punishment, and the installation of monitoring software by ISPs has made it easier to discipline those who do. 

The criminal code lands many individuals in trouble. You can be arrested for disturbing public order or affecting the dignity of individuals and public officials. It governed defamation and public insult and was amended to include a new lèse-majesté offense. 

With that, it’s illegal to defame, insult or threaten the king, and those who do can face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to 10 million riels (about $2,460). The law would apply to individuals, as well as media outlets, leading to self-censorship.

People have been punished under the law. For example, in 2018, a primary school teacher was arrested for allegedly making offensive Facebook comments about the king. Another citizen was arrested in the same year to share a picture and text via Facebook deemed insulting to the king.

Talks of a new fake news law surfaced in 2018, which would mean further restrictions on freedom of speech. Nothing is set in stone just yet, but it is still being considered. 

Journalists often face violence and threats in Cambodia. Many media outlets are government-owned, but the government also intimidates private media with lawsuits and prosecutions.

Cybercrime in Cambodia

Cambodia has seen its fair share of cybercrime during the past few years. Figures show that the number of attacks has increased since 2017, with 4,590,076 attacks detected in 2018. 

Nowhere is safe from cybercrime unless it’s off the grid, which poses a significant threat to individuals and businesses. Thankfully, a VPN can protect you from such threats, but it’s wise to have a decent antivirus installed, too.

Conclusion

With surveillance, censorship, and punishment for “insulting” speech being a problem in Cambodia, it’s clear that you should use a VPN while you’re online. It’ll protect you from any online dangers and keep you anonymous while also giving you other useful features.

For Cambodia, you should make sure you choose a VPN with good security and privacy, as well as a decent server network for getting around any blocks. Remember, if you want to access Cambodian-restricted content, you’ll need servers within the country. 

If you have experience using a VPN in Cambodia, share it with us in the comments section. Thank you for reading.