Pedophiles are exploiting virtual reality environments like the metaverse to abuse children, an NSPCC investigation has revealed for the first time.
The data shows that UK police forces have recorded eight instances where virtual reality (VR) spaces were used for child sexual abuse imagery offences.
The metaverse, which is being driven primarily by Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, is a set of virtual spaces where you can play, work, and communicate with others who aren’t in the same physical space as you.
The Facebook founder has been a leading voice on the concept, which is seen as the future of the internet and would blur the lines between the physical and the digital.
West Midlands Police recorded five cases of Metaverse abuse and one from Warwickshire, while Surrey Police recorded two offences, including one involving Meta’s Oculus headset, now called the Quest.
Disturbing: Pedophiles are exploiting virtual reality environments like the metaverse to abuse children, an NSPCC investigation has revealed (file image)
Investigation: West Midlands Police recorded five cases of Metaverse abuse and one from Warwickshire, while Surrey Police recorded two offences, including one involving Meta’s Oculus headset (pictured by Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg), which now it’s called Quest
Part of the problem with the metaverse and other VR environments is that users interact with others as an avatar, so they never know the true identity of who they’re talking to.
A report published last year by the Institution of Engineering and Technology warned that unsupervised children were therefore interacting with adults in open-access virtual reality spaces, including Altspace, VRChat, and Meta’s Horizon Venues.
Data from the NSPCC reveals that while virtual reality spaces are used to commit sexual abuse against children, Snapchat is the social media platform of choice for pedophiles.
In 2021/22, the app, which is popular with teenagers, was used in 4,293 child abuse image crimes, representing 43 percent of all cases where police mentioned a platform.
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which are owned by Meta, were used in 33 percent of the cases where a site was flagged.
NSPCC research showed that child abuse image crimes recorded by UK police had increased by two-thirds in five years.
More than 30,000 offenses related to sharing and possessing indecent images of children occurred in 2021/22, according to a freedom of information request sent to all 43 police forces in England and Wales.
Unregulated social media is fueling this “unprecedented scale” of online child sexual abuse, the children’s charity has warned, renewing its call for Meta to scrap plans to introduce default end-to-end encryption of services. Facebook and Instagram messaging.
The NSPCC said that this would Impossible to identify grooming and image sharing.
He also urged the UK government to create a Child Safety Legal Advocate through the Online Safety Bill to prioritize the problem of child sexual abuse imagery crimes taking place on social media.
The legislation is currently in the House of Lords.
The NSPCC said a child safety legal advocate was crucial to act as an early warning system to identify emerging risks of child abuse and ensure they are on the radar of businesses and regulator Ofcom.
The NSPCC data also reveals that while virtual reality spaces are used to commit sexual abuse against children, Snapchat is the social media platform of choice for pedophiles.
Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: “These new figures are incredibly alarming, but they reflect just the tip of the iceberg of what children are experiencing online.”
“We hear from young people who feel powerless and disappointed as online sexual abuse risks becoming normalized for a generation of children.
‘By creating a child safety advocate to advocate for children and families, the government can ensure that the online safety bill systematically prevents abuse.
“It would be inexcusable if five years from now we are still catching up with the widespread abuse that has been allowed to proliferate on social media.”
Broadcaster and child safety activist Carol Vorderman has also previously warned of the dangers of the emerging ‘metaverse’ for young children.
She has also called for new legislation to be introduced to protect users.
“I am horrified to hear record cases of child abuse online, even in the metaverse,” the presenter said. the times.
“It is time for the government to step up and take steps to fully protect people, especially children, in all areas of our virtual world.
‘Real-time interaction in the metaverse is currently an unregulated space.
‘The proposed online torts bill doesn’t go far enough, and this is dangerous.’
