Cyberspace policing 'important', not social media bans

Andy Tsang Wai-hung, chairman of the 2026 Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, argues that robust cyberpolicing is a more effective strategy than social media bans for curbing youth cybercrime. His stance, articulated at a forum with 2,100 delegates from 139 countries, directly addresses concerns in markets like the Philippines, which recently experienced school violence attributed to online content. Tsang’s comparison of cybercrime’s spread to the evolution of drug crimes via peer groups highlights a critical shift in how youth are influenced, moving from physical interactions to digital platforms. This perspective suggests a need for Asian governments to invest in sophisticated digital oversight rather than attempting to restrict access to widely used platforms. Tsang’s skepticism about the enforceability of social media bans for minors under 16 points to a practical challenge for policymakers across Asia. While the intent to protect youth is clear, the logistical hurdles of monitoring individual digital access outside of institutional settings are substantial. The focus on cyberpolicing implies a shift towards proactive monitoring and intervention, which could involve advanced AI tools for threat detection and behavioral analysis. For Asian tech companies, this could open new avenues in developing cybersecurity solutions tailored for youth protection and digital forensics.