In an unprecedented move, UK law enforcement has initiated an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl within a virtual reality (VR) metaverse, marking the first criminal inquiry of its kind. Donna Jones, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, revealed to the BBC that the complaint was filed in 2023, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The incident, reportedly involves a girl under the age of 16 who was using a VR headset when she was purportedly assaulted by multiple strangers within the metaverse. These individuals approached her virtual avatar, engaging in inappropriate touching with their own avatars. While the original report refrains from naming the platform involved, Meta’s Horizon Worlds is implicated, accompanied by a statement from Meta addressing the situation:
“The kind of behavior described has no place on our platform, which is why, for all users, we have an automatic protection called personal boundary, which keeps people you don’t know a few feet away from you. Though we weren’t given any details about what happened ahead of this story publishing, we will look into it as details become available to us.”
The revelation of the investigation has ignited discussions in both traditional and social media regarding the role of the police in addressing “virtual” offenses, particularly due to the inadequacy of existing legislation in defining and prosecuting such cases. Concerns have been raised about the limitations of current laws, as the UK’s Sexual Offences Act (2003) defines rape and sexual assault in physical terms, making prosecution challenging when there is no physical contact.
Donna Jones emphasized the urgent need to update legislation to address the evolving risks and harms associated with artificial intelligence and platforms like the metaverse. She stated, “The Government needs to look at changing the law to protect women and children from harm in these virtual environments.”
The lack of prosecutions in the UK for offenses committed in online games or metaverse-style experiences has underscored the legal challenges posed by these emerging forms of interaction. Law enforcement faces hurdles in pursuing such cases, not only due to the absence of physical touching but also because the individuals involved may not be located within the UK.
Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Child Protection and Abuse investigation lead, stressed the importance of adapting policing approaches to address the evolving tactics of offenders in virtual spaces. He acknowledged the impact of the metaverse in providing opportunities for predators to commit crimes against children and emphasized the continual evolution of policing strategies to safeguard victims online.
James Cleverly, Conservative minister and home secretary, cautioned against dismissing the gravity of the situation, highlighting the immersive nature of virtual environments and the potential real-world implications of those perpetrating digital offenses. He emphasized the duty to take such issues seriously and called for increased responsibility from tech companies in ensuring the safety of their platforms.
The specific police force handling the investigation has not been disclosed.
