Detectives in the UK are currently investigating the initial reported case of alleged assault within the metaverse. The incident occurred when a child under the age of 16 experienced a distressing situation while engaged in a virtual reality video game.
Fortunately, the victim did not sustain any physical injuries, as the assault was entirely virtual in nature. Nevertheless, the young girl is reported to be deeply affected by the incident, as her digital character, or avatar was targeted online by multiple adult men within a virtual “room.”
She had been wearing an immersive headset during the incident, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Police leaders express concern that she may have suffered psychological and emotional trauma similar to that experienced by someone assaulted in the physical world, given the fully immersive nature of the ‘VR’ experience.
Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for child protection and abuse investigation, stated, “We are aware that offenders’ tactics for grooming and committing offenses are constantly evolving. That’s why our united effort against predators, as seen in this case, is crucial to ensuring the online protection of young people and their safe use of technology without threat or fear.
The metaverse provides a gateway for predators to perpetrate heinous crimes against children, crimes known to have enduring impacts both emotionally and mentally. Consequently, our policing strategies must consistently adapt, allowing us to relentlessly pursue predators and safeguard victims across all online spaces.
The enactment of the Online Safety Act plays a pivotal role in addressing these concerns, and it is imperative that tech companies take substantial action to enhance the safety of their platforms.
Police Chief
“The enactment of the Online Safety Act plays a pivotal role in addressing these concerns, and it is imperative that tech companies take substantial action to enhance the safety of their platforms. The current state of affairs is unacceptable, contributing to the pervasive issue of grooming and exploitation of children, necessitating a significant shift.
Moreover, there needs to be heightened awareness and education about the potential for abuse online, which can occur in any household at any time. I strongly encourage parents and caregivers to engage in open yet essential conversations with young people, ensuring their safety and creating an environment where they feel comfortable disclosing any harmful behavior in a trusted manner.”
The specifics of the virtual reality case are reported to have been kept confidential to safeguard the privacy of the child involved, with concerns that the possibility of prosecution may be uncertain.
There is a lasting emotional and psychological impact on the victim that extends beyond any physical injuries, presenting numerous challenges for law enforcement, as current legislation is not adequately designed for such situations.
Our laws must be updated to align with the evolving risks of harm stemming from artificial intelligence and offenses occurring on platforms like the metaverse.
Donna Jones, Chairman of the Association of Police Crime Commissioners
Donna Jones, Chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, emphasized the need for enhanced protection for women and children. She stated, ‘Our laws must be updated to align with the evolving risks of harm stemming from artificial intelligence and offenses occurring on platforms like the metaverse.’
The government should consider revising the law to safeguard women and children from harm within virtual environments.
Law enforcement suspects that advancements in gaming have introduced new possibilities for cybercrime, encompassing virtual robbery, ransomware, fraud, and identity theft.
However, the current legal framework is unlikely to address metaverse-related rape cases, as the Sexual Offences Act specifically defines assault as the physical, non-consensual touching of another person.
Additionally, the metaverse blurs geographical boundaries, posing challenges in determining jurisdiction when users and perpetrators are situated in different countries.
A spokesperson for Meta, the company overseeing the free online VR game Horizon Worlds, commented, “The described behavior has no place on our platform. To ensure user safety, we have an automatic protection feature called personal boundary, keeping unknown individuals a few feet away. While we lacked details before this story’s publication, we will investigate as more information becomes available.”
The revelation comes in the wake of the National Crime Agency’s head stating that rapes and murders occurring in virtual reality within the metaverse might necessitate treatment as criminal offenses due to their real-life impact on victims. Graeme Biggar highlighted that individuals wearing haptic suits might “feel a physical manifestation” during a virtual attack, urging law enforcement to prepare for such scenarios. He affirmed his agency’s commitment to developing strategies for policing the metaverse.
