Cambodia, the United Nations and the European Union have called for stronger international cooperation to combat human trafficking and online exploitation, as criminal networks increasingly use social media, digital platforms and emerging technologies to deceive and recruit victims. The call was made at a two-day national forum in Phnom Penh, where government officials, international organisations, civil society representatives and young people discussed transnational cybercrime, fraudulent recruitment and digital safety.
Key Facts
Event: National Forum on Digital Safety for All: Preventing Trafficking in Persons and Online Exploitation.
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Duration: Two days.
Cambodian representative: Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and permanent vice-chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking.
UN representative: Sylwia Gawronska, Regional Programme Adviser for Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling at UNODC.
EU representative: Bryan Fornari, Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Cambodia.
Main concerns: Fraudulent job advertisements, forced criminality, sexual exploitation, forced labour and cross-border criminal networks.
Priority response: International cooperation, public awareness and stronger digital protection.
Cambodia Highlights Links Between Online Fraud and Human Trafficking
Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and permanent vice-chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking, said online fraud and human trafficking are increasingly interconnected.
She explained that criminal networks use digital platforms to deceive and exploit individuals across borders, often disguising recruitment attempts as legitimate employment, romantic relationships or investment opportunities.
Fraudulent job advertisements promising high salaries are among the methods used to attract job seekers into exploitative situations.
Bun Eng warned that employment opportunities linked to scam operations can become traps for human trafficking, stressing that participation in criminal scam activities is not legitimate employment.
“Work in scam operations is not a job. It is a crime that carries penalties,” she said.
She called for greater public awareness to help people recognise suspicious recruitment offers and avoid becoming victims of exploitation.
Government, Schools and Private Sector Strengthen Digital Awareness
Cambodia is working with government institutions, educational establishments and private companies to raise awareness of online exploitation, particularly among young people.
Bun Eng highlighted cooperation involving the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and telecommunications operator Smart Axiata.
The collaboration aims to promote safer digital practices among students and communities, helping internet users better understand online risks.
She also emphasised the need for countries to strengthen cooperation in preventing human trafficking, investigating transnational criminal networks and dismantling operations that exploit digital technologies.
UN Warns Criminal Networks Are Exploiting Digital Platforms and AI
Sylwia Gawronska, Regional Programme Adviser for Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said organised criminal groups increasingly use digital technologies to facilitate trafficking and exploitation.
Citing reports from 2024 and 2025, she highlighted the exploitation suffered by trafficking victims, including forced criminality, sexual abuse and forced labour.
She also warned that criminal networks take advantage of artificial intelligence and gaps in public digital awareness to expand their activities.
Young job seekers, students and migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to deceptive recruitment offers promoted through social media, online employment platforms and messaging applications.
Gawronska stressed that raising awareness within communities and online spaces is essential to addressing digital exploitation.
She encouraged people to share information about online risks and help others recognise potential threats before accepting suspicious employment offers.
EU Calls for Regional Cooperation Against Cross-Border Threats
Bryan Fornari, Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in addressing online exploitation.
He said digital threats extend beyond national borders, making cooperation between countries important for tackling criminal networks operating across jurisdictions.
The EU's participation in the forum reflects the broader international concern that technology-enabled trafficking and exploitation cannot be addressed effectively through isolated national efforts.
Why Digital Recruitment Scams Require Greater Public Awareness
The discussions highlighted how criminal networks exploit people's search for employment, financial opportunities and personal relationships.
Fraudulent recruitment advertisements can appear through familiar digital channels, making it difficult for inexperienced job seekers to distinguish legitimate opportunities from criminal schemes.
The forum's emphasis on students, young job seekers and migrant workers reflects the importance of prevention and accessible information.
Recognising suspicious job offers, checking employers and recruitment agencies, and seeking advice before travelling for unfamiliar employment opportunities can help reduce exposure to exploitation.
Angkor Times Analysis
The growing use of digital platforms in human trafficking presents Cambodia and the wider region with a complex law enforcement and public safety challenge.
Traditional trafficking prevention measures must increasingly account for online recruitment, remote communication and technology-enabled deception. Criminal networks can approach potential victims through social media, messaging applications and job platforms, often disguising exploitation as legitimate employment.
The involvement of the Cambodian government, UNODC and the EU highlights the importance of combining national enforcement with regional cooperation and international expertise.
However, prevention also depends on public awareness. Schools, universities, employers, telecommunications companies and digital platforms can contribute by helping people identify suspicious recruitment practices and understand the risks associated with unverified online opportunities.
For Cambodia, strengthening digital safety is not only a law enforcement priority. It is also important for protecting workers, supporting responsible labour mobility and maintaining confidence in the country's legitimate employment and business environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the purpose of the national digital safety forum?
The two-day forum brought together government officials, international organisations, civil society representatives and young people to discuss human trafficking, online exploitation, transnational cybercrime and digital protection.
2. Which organisations participated in the discussions?
The discussions involved Cambodian government institutions, the United Nations, the European Union and other relevant stakeholders.
3. How do criminal networks recruit victims online?
According to Chou Bun Eng, traffickers use fraudulent job advertisements, romantic relationships and investment opportunities to deceive and recruit people.
4. Who is particularly vulnerable to online exploitation?
UNODC representative Sylwia Gawronska identified young job seekers, students and migrant workers as particularly targeted groups.
5. What forms of exploitation were highlighted?
The forum highlighted forced criminality, sexual abuse and forced labour.
6. What role does artificial intelligence play in the issue?
UNODC warned that criminal networks exploit artificial intelligence and gaps in digital awareness to facilitate trafficking and exploitation. The source does not specify particular AI techniques.
7. How is Cambodia promoting digital safety?
Cambodia is strengthening cooperation among government ministries, schools and private companies, including Smart Axiata, to raise awareness of online exploitation and encourage safer digital practices.