As more people gravitate towards the metaverse, sadly, there are those using it for sinister means.
United Kingdom authorities is investigating its first case of rape in the virtual reality. As reported by the Daily Mail, a child under age 16 was recently attacked in a VR game when her avatar was gang raped by a group of strangers also in the metaverse. The victim experienced the attack while wearing the VR headset. She was not physically assaulted, nor did she encounter the rapists in real life.
It is unknown what game the child was playing. However, Meta games, such as Horizon Worlds, have come under intense scrutiny for the way predators have chosen to use the platform. Several instances of players using their avatars to rape other avatars seem to indicate that some people are using the metaverse to act out their violent acts. Unfortunately, there are not many protections for underage metaverse users. Given the immersive nature of these types of games, officials strongly believe the U.K. victim endured similar trauma as a real-life rape victim. One insider close to the situation told the Daily Mail, “There is an emotional and psychological impact on the victim that is longer term than any physical injuries.”
Authorities are not releasing key details in the case, as it does involve a child. As of now, there are no suspects in the case. Since this is a first for the U.K., it’s unclear what types of charges the perpetrators will be subjected to.
