Police are investigating a virtual sexual assault of a girl’s avatar, the chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has said.

Donna Jones said she had learned that a complaint was made in 2023, triggering a police inquiry.

The virtual incident did not result in physical harm but caused “psychological trauma”, the Daily Mail has reported a source as saying. Police chiefs have called on platforms to do more to protect their users.

The impact of the attack on the girl’s avatar was said to be heightened because of the immersive nature of the VR experience.

  • DarkThoughts@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    I think harassment is probably more appropriate, unless said metaverse somehow allows the sexual assault of avatars, which I don’t think exists. I mean, IIRC Second Life technically has sex animations but afaik you have to strictly opt into that stuff. People can’t just go around and use your avatar for it and even then it would be the question why she went into such a place & features if she didn’t wanted to.