Virtual Crimes in Metaverse
Last Updated :
13 Mar, 2024
As the experience of virtual worlds grows richer, virtual crimes such as assault and theft may become as serious as their counterparts in the physical world. Virtual crimes, such as virtual fraud, sexual assault, theft, and the creation of sweatshops, are increasingly occurring within virtual worlds, metaverses, and digital economies. While the metaverse presents intriguing possibilities, it’s vital to recognize and understand its associated risks. From virtual theft to digital identity threats, understanding and employing safety measures is essential for a secure journey through this expansive virtual landscape.
Virtual Crimes in Metaverse
What is Metaverse?
In his novel “Snow Crash”, Neal Stephenson coined in the term “metaverse”. It refers to a virtual space in three dimensional. It allows you to explore the virtual spaces in 3D where you can connect with one another and socialize, play and learn. It is the next evolution in socialization in virtual world.
When it comes to criminal activities, metaverse seems to be indifferent from the real world. It offers huge potential for businesses, social culture and interactions, and entertainment. But everything comes with a price and risks associated.
- As the metaverse becomes more popular, more valuable assets are created and traded within it.
- Virtual identity theft, phishing scams, and virtual asset theft are potential threats within this immersive environment.
- These virtual assets can take many forms: cryptocurrencies, NFTs, collectible goods, and virtual assets (land, custom goods, etc.). As a consequence, criminal activity has started to emerge. Criminality in the metaverse is only the next logical step in anthropology — from real physical world crime to digital crimes, and later, digital world crimes.
Some examples of crime in the metaverse include:
Virtual Fraud – It include identity theft, online transactions, dating scams and more, basically designed to fool you and take your money.
Virtual Theft – When a person uses the internet to steal the personal or financial data of a victim with the intent to use that information for criminal purposes.
Virtual Extortion: When a person accesses sensitive information from another person’s computer network or system through different methods like cloning or phishing, with a criminal intent and then demands a ransom in return.
Virtual Harassment: Repeated use of digital communication tools by an individual or group to inflict harm on another person, often involving online threats, embarrassment, or humiliation considered as virtual harassment.
Why Virtual Crime is in News?
UK law enforcement agency recently started an investigation into the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl’s virtual avtaar in a virtual reality game. A UK teenager, under 16, was sexually attacked by a gang of strangers while she was in the virtual reality video game in the metaverse, the first virtual sexual offence in the country.
- The 16-year-old girl was playing the immersive game wearing a virtual reality headset when her avatar or animated representation was attacked by the avatars of several adult men in a “virtual” room.
- However, since the teenager did not suffer any physical injury, UK authorities fear the “crime” might not be possible to prosecute under existing laws, which define sexual assault as physical touching, without consent in a sexual manner.
As the metaverse offers tremendous opportunities for different sectors, but being aware of its potential threat is equally important. From virtual theft to digital identity threats, understanding and employing safety measures is essential for a secure journey through this expansive virtual landscape. Since it is a virtual environment, the metaverse is open to several security risks, such as hacking, intellectual property theft and misuse of user data, which can lead to loss of personal data, financial damage and harm to the reputation and stability of virtual communities. Following are the ways through which one can protect itself –
- Use strong and unique passwords.
- Update the software time to time.
- Cross check the information.
- Do not pick call from unidentified numbers.
Conclusion
As we discuss the metaverse offered significant opportunities however, it also poses number of distinctive and intricate cybersecurity risks that demand attention and measures to emerging challenges comes out of it. The world of metaverse possess immense benefit to society at the same time it also poses threats to the real world. From virtual fraud to virtual theft and virtual extortion, the number of cases are rising day by day. To tackle the challenges emerging out of it is hour of need to be vigilant and have an approach of counteroffensive.
What is a metaverse example?
Answer – The metaverse is a set of digital spaces to socialize, learn, play and more. Example of metaverse is Fortnite. The popular online video game from Epic Games offers an immersive digital gaming and social space that is an example of a real-life metaverse-like environment.
How to use metaverse in India?
Answer – You can access the metaverse with a smartphone, although you may have limited features. Other devices you will need, include the following: A computer: If you want to expand beyond the capabilities of a smartphone, a computer with good graphics and memory will enhance your experience.
Who created metaverse?
Answer – In his novel “Snow Crash”, Neal Stephenson coined in the term “metaverse”. It refers to a virtual space in three dimensional. It allows you to explore the virtual spaces in 3D where you can connect with one another and socialize, play and learn. It is the next evolution in socialization in virtual world.
How to protect yourself in Metaverse?
Answer – Following are the ways through which one can protect itself –
- Use strong and unique passwords.
- Update the software time to time.
- Cross check the information.
- Do not pick call from unidentified numbers.
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