UK police investigate rape of girl in computer-generated metaverse, say it causes her trauma

 

Detectives are investigating the first case of alleged rape in the metaverse after a child was “attacked” playing a virtual reality video game.

The girl, aged under 16, wasn’t physically injured as there was no physical assault. But she is said to have been left distraught after her avatar – or digital character – was attacked online by several adult men in a virtual “room”.

She had been wearing an immersive headset during the “attack”, the Daily Mail reported.

Police leaders are concerned she suffered the same psychological and emotional trauma as someone raped in the real world as the ‘VR’ experience is designed to be completely immersive.

Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for child protection and abuse investigation, said: “The metaverse creates a gateway for predators to commit horrific crimes against children.

”The unusual case has prompted questions about whether the police should be pursuing online offences while they and prosecutors struggle with a backlog of real rape cases.”

Details of the virtual reality case are said to have been kept secret to protect the child involved, amid fears a prosecution may never be possible.

One senior officer familiar with the case told the Mail: “This child experienced psychological trauma similar to that of someone who has been physically raped.

“There is an emotional and psychological impact on the victim that is longer term than any physical injuries. It poses a number of challenges for law enforcement, given [that] current legislation is not set up for this.”

Donna Jones, chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said women and children deserve greater protection, adding: “We need to update our laws because they have not kept pace with the risks of harm that are developing from artificial intelligence and offending on platforms like the metaverse.