UK Police Investigate First Case of Sexual Assault in VR Metaverse

The incident sparks debate on the need for updated legislation to address virtual offences.

UK police are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl in a VR metaverse, marking the first criminal investigation of its kind.
The victim, a girl under the age of 16, was allegedly assaulted by multiple strangers who approached her avatar in the virtual world.
The incident has sparked debate about the police's role in virtual offences and the need for legislation to keep pace with technological advancements.
Existing legislation, such as the UK's Sexual Offences Act (2003), is ill-equipped to handle such cases as it defines both rape and sexual assault as physical acts.
Tech companies are being urged to do more to make their platforms safe, with Meta having implemented a 'Personal Boundary' feature to keep strangers at a distance in the virtual world.