News Brief
Virtual Nightmare: First Gang Rape Reported In Metaverse, Minor Girl's Avatar Sexually Assaulted By Online Strangers
Virtual world (Representative Image)
The Metaverse, hailed as the next frontier in digital interaction, is grappling with heightened scrutiny and growing concerns over safety and privacy after UK police launched an investigation into the first reported gang rape case within the virtual realm.
The shocking incident, as reported by Indian Express, involved the virtual assault of a 16-year-old girl's (minor) avatar by a group of online strangers in a virtual video game.
The Metaverse, a virtual world developed by Meta, requires users to wear VR headsets for immersive interactions with other players in a digital landscape featuring avatars of real users.
The victim, while suffering no physical injuries due to the virtual nature of the attack, has reportedly experienced significant emotional and psychological trauma, according to UK police.
This disconcerting event sheds light on broader safety concerns within the Metaverse, with similar reports emerging in popular Meta-owned games such as Horizon Worlds and Horizon Venues, available for free within the virtual space.
Beyond incidents of virtual assault, crimes within the Metaverse encompass virtual robbery, identity theft, and ransom attacks, raising questions about the platform's overall security.
Responding to the incident, a Meta spokesperson asserted, "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."
Meta, the parent company of major social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, created the Metaverse to provide users with an immersive digital experience, allowing them to live alternate lives while concealing real-world identities.
However, this incident has brought into focus the potential risks associated with virtual interactions and the need for robust safety measures.
In response to the rising concerns, the UK is contemplating the introduction of an Online Safety Act bill to address and prevent such incidents within the Metaverse.
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