Metaverse is a virtual reality simulation that works with virtual and augmented reality. This environment was designed to emphasize sociability by emulating real-world user interaction. Imagine you’re in your pajamas, signing into the Metaverse, and one avatar approaches you and makes sexually obscene comments, or worse, tries to grope you in a real-world-like manner. Yes, women have filed similar complaints numerous times in the last year, so much so that there has been a significant increase in reporting such events from 15% to 25% during the last few years.
Trouble has begun to brew as Facebook anticipates the successful launch of their metaverse and virtual reality social platform ‘Horizon Worlds.’ Sexual harassment has become all too rampant in the Metaverse. Needless to say, sexual impropriety of any kind becomes twice as acute in the Metaverse. Compared to the ordinary internet, the Metaverse adds another layer to it, making it highly traumatic for the victim.
The Expansion of Crimes in the NFT Market
It’s not difficult to understand why sexual predators have discovered a means to harass and threaten Metaverse members. The solution is simple and straightforward: the Metaverse is, in many ways, a reproduction of the real world. These crimes continue to occur in the real world, offenders continue to get away with it, and victims are again left feeling defenseless and powerless.
Virtual worlds, in certain ways, make users feel as if they are physically present in a specific area, which often encourages users to behave and think as they would ordinarily. Such misbehavior is significantly more harmful in the Metaverse because the perpetrator has a fair possibility of getting away with it.
Regulatory measures have increased in the bitcoin sector, and cryptocurrencies have suffered. The NFT marketplace and Metaverse, on the other hand, have witnessed a significant increase inactive users. As a result, there has been an increase in incidences of bullying, threatening, stalking, and other forms of harassment.
The world’s largest technology corporations, including Microsoft, Apple, and Google, have all begun efforts to develop metaverses. Despite the fact that such tech behemoths have seriously engaged in their attempts to develop virtual reality, safety concerns remain unanswered. This raises an important question: can the Metaverse ever be fully free of such miscreants?
Other types of criminal activity have also been emphasized. For example, “Rug Pull,” a systematic method of swindling money, has been on the rise. A “Rug Pull” is a social media scam promotion of an NFT asset. After the NFT’s price has risen, the scammer sells the asset, rendering the asset worthless.
South Korea’s Recent Intervention
The South Korean media regulatory agency recently intervened to protect Metaverse places from sexual harassment. In particular, South Korea’s Communications Commission has decided to investigate situations involving children. Concerns about violence, inclusivity, and the obvious, as well as sexual misbehavior and crime, will be addressed by the council looking at this.
