The chief inspector of the CSTCB warned that the metaverse is no safer than the traditional internet, saying that "all crimes in the cyberspace could also happen in the metaverse."
The cyber security unit of the Hong Kong Police Force have launched CyberDefender, a new metaverse platform designed to educate the public of the potential dangers associated with Web3 and the metaverse.
According to a May 27 statement, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force unveiled a new metaverse platform, CyberDefender, in an effort to prepare its citizens for the “challenges ahead in the digital age” with a focus on technology crime prevention.
An online event, "Exploring the Metaverse," was held on the same day as it launched, spanning across three virtual venues, with the aim of discussing crime prevention strategies within the metaverse.
During the event, chief inspector of CSTCB, Mr Ip Cheuk-yu emphasized the importance of exercising caution in the metaverse, urging attendees to apply the same level of vigilance they practise while using the internet. He stated:
“All crimes in the cyberspace could also happen in the metaverse, such as investment frauds, unauthorized access to systems, theft and sexual offenses.”
He further explained that decentralization could potentially raise the risk of asset theft.
“The decentralized nature of virtual assets in Web3 may also increase the likelihood of cyber criminals targeting end point devices, virtual asset wallets and smart contracts” he noted.
The CyberDefender educational initiatives appear to be focused on “the younger generation”, with the statement noting:
Police will continue to organize public educational initiatives on different themes through the "CyberDefender Metaverse" platform, raise the awareness among teenagers regarding the latest advancements in information technology, potential pitfalls and the importance of preventing technology crimes.
According to the statement, The Hong Kong Police Force received 663 reports involving virtual assets during Q1 2023, with a total loss of $570 million – a 75% increase compared to Q1 2022.
Related: Top metaverse property investments suffer massive losses: Report
This comes after it was reported on May 22, that Nanjing, the capital city of China’s eastern Jiangsu province, launched the China Metaverse Technology and Application Innovation Platform to advance metaverse research and development across the country.
The innovaiton platform is being led by the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST).
