 "Cambodia launches its own WhatsApp-like messaging app, security experts fear privacy issues")
Cambodian leader Hun Sen has endorsed a new homegrown messaging app, CoolApp, which critics argue could be used by the government to monitor and suppress political discourse. CoolApp was launched to rival popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, with Hun Sen emphasizing its role in protecting national security by preventing foreign interference in Cambodian communications.
Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, stated on Facebook that CoolApp is Cambodia’s first messaging platform developed for national security purposes. He compared it to other countries’ proprietary communication tools, such as China’s WeChat, Vietnam’s Zalo, South Korea’s Kakao Talk, and Russia’s Telegram. Despite stepping down as prime minister last year, Hun Sen remains the central figure of power in Cambodia’s ruling party, with his eldest son, Hun Manet, now serving as prime minister.
Online scams and security concerns
Cambodia has been a hotspot for large-scale online scams orchestrated by Chinese criminal gangs, drawing international attention and concern from the US State Department and the United Nations.
CoolApp’s founder and CEO, Lim Cheavutha, told CNN that the app has been downloaded 150,000 times and uses end-to-end encryption to ensure privacy, claiming it does not monitor, collect, or store user data. He anticipates the app will reach 500,000 to 1 million downloads, though no specific timeline was provided. In comparison, WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app globally, has millions of users in Cambodia.
Surveillance and censorship in Cambodia
Under Hun Sen’s leadership, internet freedom in Cambodia has significantly deteriorated, with increased censorship, media blackouts, and online harassment. The government has intensified state surveillance, leading to the arrest and persecution of critics and the shutdown of independent media outlets.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHun Sen, a frequent social media user, has previously threatened to ban Facebook in response to online criticism from political opponents. In 2023, Meta’s oversight board recommended suspending his Facebook and Instagram accounts for six months due to language that could incite violence.
Opposition and criticism
Mu Sochua, an exiled opposition leader, warned that CoolApp could be a tool for government surveillance and control over public discourse. She noted that civil servants are being ordered to download the app, implying coercion.
Sam Rainsy, another exiled opposition leader, echoed the boycott calls, suggesting that CoolApp would enhance the regime’s repressive capabilities. He pointed out Hun Sen’s history of covertly monitoring opposition communications and manipulating social media.
The introduction of CoolApp raises significant privacy and surveillance concerns among Cambodian citizens and international observers. While the app’s proponents claim it is a secure, homegrown alternative to foreign messaging platforms, critics argue it may further erode civil liberties and enhance the government’s ability to control and monitor political discourse.
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