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A 16-year-old girl playing a video game using a virtual reality headset has become the victim of what is believed to be the first case of virtual rape in the Metaverse. British police have launched an investigation into this disturbing incident, as reported by the New York Post.
According to reports, the victim, whose identity has been kept confidential, was immersed in a virtual reality video game when her avatar was allegedly sexually assaulted by a group of men. While no physical harm was inflicted on the victim, law enforcement officials fear that she may suffer the same emotional and psychological trauma as a survivor of physical rape.
In an article published in 1993, Julian Dibbell highlighted the concept of “rape in cyberspace.” The piece discussed the experiences of individuals who were sexually assaulted through their avatars in virtual communities and the emotional impact it had on them, as reported by The Guardian.
The investigation into this virtual rape raises important questions regarding the allocation of law enforcement resources. Some government officials argue that pursuing this case is a waste of limited resources, especially considering the backlog of in-person rape cases. The legal definition of sexual assault in the United Kingdom focuses on physical touching without consent, which may make prosecution in this virtual context challenging.
However, Home Secretary James Cleverly is defending the investigation, emphasizing the significance of virtual environments in today’s society. Cleverly acknowledged that while it may be easy to dismiss virtual experiences as “not real,” they can be incredibly immersive, especially for a child who has undergone sexual trauma.
While this investigation marks the first of its kind, there have been previous reports of sexual assault in virtual worlds. Horizon Worlds, the free VR game operated by Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has seen numerous incidents. Meta has implemented certain measures, such as personal boundaries that keep unknown individuals at a distance. However, advocates argue that more should be done to safeguard the well-being of children and adults online.
Advocates are hopeful that the Online Safety Bill, currently under consideration in the UK, will establish a precedent for protecting individuals from digital harm and ensuring a safer online environment.
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