Hong Kong Police launches CyberDefender

 

The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force has launched CyberDefender, a metaverse platform to educate the public about the risks associated with Web3 and the metaverse.  Hong Kong witnessed a significant increase in virtual asset crime in Q1 2023, with 663 reported cases and a total loss of $570M, prompting the police to enhance technology crime education. During the event "Exploring the Metaverse," the chief inspector of the CSTCB highlighted the need for caution in the metaverse, as crimes commonly found on the internet can also occur in the virtual space. In Q1 2023, Hong Kong reported a 75% increase in virtual asset crime compared to Q1 2022.   The launch of CyberDefender aligns with the establishment of the China Metaverse Technology and Application Innovation Platform in Nanjing.  In addition to introducing the new metaverse platform, the Hong Kong Securities Regulatory Commission (HKSRC) released revised guidelines on combating money laundering (AML). According to local media, Wu Zhong-ze, the former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, highlighted the importance of expanding the use of the metaverse in various sectors, including education, commerce, healthcare, and entertainment.