The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has warned the public against misusing images of Cambodian riel banknotes on social media, saying such acts undermine national dignity and disrespect the country’s cultural and historical identity.
In a May 12 notice, the central bank said it had recently observed some social media users using images of riel banknotes in graphic design or digitally manipulating them for various purposes.
The warning followed the circulation of images on social media showing fake banknotes featuring portraits of Senate president Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The NBC said the practice has “serious negative impacts” on the nation’s values, noting that the riel is more than just a means of payment.
“Through the symbols and images printed on banknotes, the national currency reflects national unity, historical heritage, culture and national pride,” said the notice.
The bank stressed that altering the appearance of riel banknotes — including writing on them, colouring them, distorting their images or handling them improperly — amounts to an insult to Cambodia and its people.
The reminder comes amid growing use of digital editing tools and AI-generated imagery on social media platforms, where images of banknotes are sometimes incorporated into entertainment content, advertisements or online graphics.
NBC cited Article 53 of the Law on the Organization and Conduct of the NBC, which states that banknotes are a form of property that holders are obligated to preserve in good condition for circulation and transactions.
According to the bank, damaging or altering the original appearance of banknotes could cause them to lose value or be removed from circulation altogether.
The central bank also pointed to Article 65 of the same law, which stipulates that counterfeiting banknotes or coins that are legal tender in Cambodia or another country is punishable by imprisonment ranging from 20 years to life.
While the statement did not mention any specific individuals or social media accounts, the NBC urged users and the general public to exercise caution and respect when using images of the national currency.
At present, over 90 per cent of commercial bank deposits and roughly 85 to 90 per cent of bank loans are denominated in US dollars.
The Cambodian riel has long been promoted by authorities as a symbol of economic sovereignty and national identity, with the government and NBC continuing efforts to encourage wider use of the local currency in daily transactions.
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