Moral policing is motivated by a desire to safeguard societal norms in religion, morality, tradition, gender and sexual norms. It was the top reason in Cambodia (gatekeeping of culture and heritage), Vietnam (narratives around the nationhood) and Malaysia (Islam, gender and sexuality). 

In Thailand, perceived infractions against the royal family, military and the political elite are highly disciplined by state and non-state agents. 

In Indonesia, prohibitions on some forms of live music,  ostensibly to protect the public against vice activities, was behind a large number of cases. In the Philippines, protecting minors was cited in several  cases, indicating societal anxieties about the ‘corrupting’ influence of  arts and culture.