Hun Sen, a powerful figure in Cambodia, is a supporter of a new messaging app that critics claim the government uses to monitor and stifle political discourse.
The former prime minister posted on his official Facebook page this week that CoolApp, created this month to compete with WhatsApp and Telegram, will make it “difficult for foreigners to interfere with our information.” He also stressed “national security.”
“It is the first Cambodian program used in Cambodian security,” he wrote. The speaker noted that whereas other nations have social media platforms such as WeChat, Zalo, Kakao Talk, and Telegram, Cambodia has its own product.
Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has ruled Cambodia for over 30 years. Last year, his eldest son, Hun Manet, became prime minister, although Hun Sen remains the ruling party’s leader.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen and CPP president attend a nationwide election campaign in Phnom Penh on
Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving dictators, will transfer power to his son.
CNN quoted CoolApp CEO Lim Cheavutha. Despite 150,000 downloads, the software does not track or keep user data. He stated that end-to-end encryption protects data and calls.
He stated that only the sender and receiver of messages and calls can read or listen.
He projected 500,000 to 1 million app downloads but did not specify a timetable. In Cambodia, millions utilize Meta’s WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging software.
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