News and Updates
The Mekong Data Protection Launched SCAMCHECK AI!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of SCAMCHECK AI —our new intelligent, web-based tool dedicated to combating the sharp rise in online scams and fraud across Cambodia and Southeast Asia.
Online fraud is a critical issue, costing Cambodians an estimated $40 million in H1 2024 alone. SCAMCHECK AI offers a powerful, instant solution to help everyone from job seekers to online shoppers protect themselves from threats like job scams, investment scams, and phishing messages.
How SCAMCHECK AI Works:
This simple, mobile-friendly application uses advanced AI to analyze suspicious content, including text, photos, and URLs.
Collaborative Pathways for Digital Financial Literacy in Cambodia
On November 28th, the Mekong Data Protection (MDP) was honored to moderate a panel discussion on "Collaborative Pathways for Advancing Digital Financial Literacy in Cambodia" at the Finance for All: Digital Financial Literacy Forum.
Co-organized by the Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC) and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), with support from the Association of Banks in Cambodia and Cambodia Microfinance Association, this high-level forum brought together over 100 leaders from regulators, banks, financial institutions, FinTechs, and development partners. The goal was to share regional best practices and strengthen public trust, awareness, and access to safe digital financial services.
Advancing Cyber Resilience in Southeast Asia
On Nov 22-23, Mekong Data Protection was invited to contributed to The "Global Cyber Policy Dialogues: Southeast Asia" which took place in Singapore on November 20-21, 2025. The event was co-organized by Observer Research Foundation America and Rajaratnam School of International Studies, in partnership with Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. The event focused on regional cooperation in cybersecurity, including tackling online scams and strengthening critical infrastructure. Key themes included public-private partnerships, advancing cyber capacity-building initiatives, and discussing a shared vision for a stable and secure cyberspace in the region.
A major highlight for MDP was the opportunity to share our work on combatting the growing threat of digital fraud. We showcased how our ScamCheck AI tool is leveraging artificial intelligence to protect citizens and detect sophisticated scams in real-time.
Promoting Data-Driven Policy Making at the Sub-National Level
On July 13, the Mekong Data Protection (MDP) conducted a training session in Kompong Thom Province on the topic: “Data-Driven Policy Making for 60 participants from the provincial administration and sectoral provincial offices.
The training, chaired by the Head of the Provincial Council, aimed to strengthen skills and awareness on how to:
- Collect and analyze data effectively
- Integrate evidence into policy design and evaluation
- Improve decision-making processes to better serve citizens
Supporting sub-national institutions is essential to ensuring that data and technology can drive inclusive development across Cambodia.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Capacity for Government
On July 10, MDP was honored to deliver a training session for 50 government staff at the Council of Ministers of Cambodia on the topic: “Cybersecurity for Government.” This interactive training focused on practical strategies to protect government data and critical systems against emerging cyber threats. Participants explored:
- Common attack techniques targeting public institutions
- Best practices for securing devices and networks
- The importance of a culture of cybersecurity awareness across all levels of government
MCDP contributed to National AI Strategy of Cambodia
The Mekong Data Protection (MDP) is proud to contribute to the development of Cambodia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy by providing substantive inputs to the draft document and supporting the consultation process to gather perspectives from a wide range of local stakeholders. On July 2, Dr. Heng Pheakdey, Founder and Chairman of MDP, was honored to moderate a high-level panel discussion on “How to Promote Collaboration to Enhance Research, Development, and Innovation in Artificial Intelligence in Cambodia.”
This session formed part of the National Workshop on the Draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which convened over 400 participants representing government institutions, academia, the private sector, and international organizations. Read more on LinkedIn.
MDP shared its expertise with the National Assembly of Cambodia.
On April 4, 2025, Dr. Pheakdey Heng, Founder and Chairman of the Mekong Data Protection, had the honor of presenting at the Cambodian National Assembly on the timely and critical topic: “Understanding Data Protection in the Era of Global Privacy Standards.”
The session brought together 70 dedicated National Assembly staff members for an engaging discussion on how Cambodia can navigate and align with evolving global privacy frameworks, while safeguarding citizens’ rights in an increasingly data-driven world. Read more on LinkedIn.
MDP contributed to Cambodia's consultative workshop on the draft Personal Data Protection Law
On December 24th, 2024, the Mekong Data Protection (MDP) had the honor of being invited by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication to contributed to a consultative workshop aimed at gathering stakeholder insights on the draft legislation.
We commend the Ministry for adopting a collaborative and inclusive approach throughout this process. MDP has been actively engaging with policymakers since the initial stages of drafting, and we’re pleased to note significant improvements in the latest draft compared to earlier versions.
At MCDP, we remain steadfast in our mission to advocate for regulations that uphold international data protection standards while addressing the unique needs of Cambodia. Read more on LinkedIn.
Training for Cambodia's Council of Ministers
On December 04, 2024, MDP's founder delivered a training session to Cambodia’s Council of Ministers on the topic of “Evidence-Based Policy Making: Using Data to Inform Policy Decisions.”
This session explored the importance of harnessing accurate and reliable data to shape effective public policies, ensuring that decisions are grounded in real-world evidence. A key highlight of the training was a deep dive into Cambodia’s Data Protection Law, discussing its implications for policymakers and the need for robust data governance frameworks in today’s digital age.
At the Mekong Data Protection (MDP), we’re committed to empowering decision-makers with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of data privacy, security, and ethical use. Read more on LinkedIn.