British police are starting a new and uncharted investigation into a gang rape, quite a serious offense, but the only catch is that this crime happened in Metaverse, not real life.
The victim of this crime is apparently girl under the age of 16, who's online avatar, or digital character, was allegedly raped by a group of avatars.
From The Daily Mail:
The headset-wearing victim did not suffer any injuries as there was no physical attack.
But officers said she suffered the same psychological and emotional trauma as someone who has been raped in the real world as the 'VR' experience is designed to be completely immersive.
It is thought to be the first time in the UK that a virtual sexual offence has been investigated by police.
Virtual reality headsets were expected to be a popular gift this Christmas, with the NSPCC estimating that 15 per cent of children aged between five and ten have used one and 6 per cent use one daily.
Led by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, tech giants have bet billions of pounds on drawing people – young and old – towards the virtual realm of the 'metaverse', selling the chance to live a digitised, fantasy life. The victim was in an online 'room' with a large number of fellow users when the virtual assault by several adult men took place.
This situation prompts various opinions and raises a crucial question: Is this so-called Metaverse genuinely a safe space for anyone, especially young children? With more than enough hazards already present in the real world, it's worth questioning the wisdom of introducing another realm fraught with the same challenges.
