Is terrorism making a big comeback?

A quarter of a century after Al-Qaeda hijackers turned planes flying over the US into weapons, terrorism continues to cast a long shadow over Southeast Asia.

- Hariz Baharudin

What once was a threat fomented by large networks and disciplined cells has mutated into something looser and harder to trace. Terrorism now spreads through digital subcultures, imported grievances from global conflicts and in dark corners online.

Online gaming has turned into one of the most striking developments in the evolution of radicalisation, in which platforms like PUBG: Battlegrounds and Roblox are exploited for harmful purposes. Recruiters have moved from social media feeds into these immersive game worlds where young people spend much of their time, using private servers and team chats to seed harmful ideas.