Virtual crime

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Virtual crime, can be described as a criminal act conducted in a virtual world -- usually massively multiplayer online role-playing games, MMORPGs. To grasp the definition of virtual crime, the modern interpretation of the term "virtual" must be assessed to portray the implications of virtual crime. In this sense, virtual crime describes those online acts that “evoke the effects of real crime”  but are not widely considered to be prosecutable acts. [1]

Contents

There are several interpretations of the term "virtual crime". One scholar defined virtual crime as needing to have all the qualities of a real crime, and so it was not a new subset of crime at all. [2] It is difficult to prove that there are real-life implications of virtual crime, thus it is not widely accepted as prosecutable. [2]

Examples of virtual crimes include; mugging, sexual assault, theft, construction of sweatshops — all of which are usually committed within virtual worlds, metaverses and economies. [3] [4]

Terminology

MMORPG - Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game. MMORPGs are a platform susceptible to virtual crime.

MMOG or MMO - Massively multiplayer online game, which is an online video game with a large number of players on the same server. MMOGs are also platforms susceptible to virtual crime.

Metaverse - In science fiction, the metaverse is a hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, universal, and immersive virtual world facilitated by the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. [3] In colloquial usage, a metaverse is a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social and economic connection. [3] [5] [6] [7] In scientific research, it is defined as “a three-dimensional online environment in which users represented by avatars interact with each other in virtual spaces decoupled from the real physical world”. [5]

Virtual World - Also called a virtual space, a virtual world is a computer-simulated environment which may be populated by many users who can create a personal avatar,[cite] simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities, and communicate with others. [8] [9] [10] This is where virtual crime takes place.

Virtual Economy - Also called a synthetic economy, a virtual economy exists within a virtual world, and users utilize it to buy, sell, and invest in virtual items, services, and properties. [4] With the rise of virtual worlds, virtual economies see an increase in usage, demand, and currency exchange within, much like in real life. [4] In 2014, the exchange of currency for virtual property in Second Life, a popular virtual world, was US$3.2 billion. [4] For perspective, this was the estimated combined annual trade for virtual economies in 2004. [4]

Individuals or players within virtual worlds explore, build their characters, and collect items through game play or various tasks. [4] These goods and services carry demonstrable value standard conceptions of economic value because players are willing to substitute real economic resources of time and money (monthly fees) in exchange for these resources. [4] However, in most games, players do not own, materially or intellectually, any part of the game world, and merely pay to use it. [4]

As virtual worlds become more popular and we see the rise of virtual economies, many issues and many opportunities rise as well. [4] For example, eBay, along with specialist trading sites, have allowed players to sell their wares. This has attracted fraudulent sales as well as theft. [11] Many game developers, such as Blizzard Entertainment (responsible for World of Warcraft) oppose and even prohibit the practice. [12]

In the online world of Britannia, the currency of one Annum equates to about $3.4 US. [13] If someone were to steal another player's virtual currency, they could convert it to US dollars via PayPal, though this problem has not yet been reported. This stems controversy over whether or not this should be dealt with like real crime, as there are real-life implications. [14]

Types of Virtual Crime

Virtual Sexual Assault

While not resulting in physical injury or physical assault, virtual sexual assault can inflict emotional harm. [15] One of the earliest reported instances of virtual sexual assault occurred in 1993 in the computer programming world of LambdaMOO. [15] In 2007, a Belgian citizen reported an instance of non-consensual sexual activity in the virtual world Second Life to Belgian police. [15]

In the game The Sims Online in 2005, a 17-year-old boy going by the in-game name "Evangeline" was discovered to have built a cyber-brothel, where customers would pay sim-money for minutes of cybersex. This led to the cancellation of his accounts but no legal action, mainly because he was above the age of consent. [16]

In July 2018, a mother in the United States posted on Facebook that her daughter's avatar on Roblox had been gang raped by two other users. Roblox stated that it was outraged that a "bad actor" had violated its community policies and rules of conduct, and that they had zero tolerance over such acts. [17] The incident led to The Village Voice reprinting its 1993 article, A Rape in Cyberspace. [18] In July 2021, a formally convicted sex offender was arrested in Illinois for allegedly grooming and soliciting a minor through the use of Roblox. [19]

In November 2021, a beta user of Horizon Worlds reported being groped in-game and that other users supported the conduct. [20] Meta responded that there are built-in tools to block interactions with other users, which are not enabled by default, and that although the incident was "absolutely unfortunate," it provides good feedback in making the blocking feature "trivially easy and findable." [20] A month later on Horizon Worlds, metaverse researcher and psychotherapist Nina Jane Patel reported that her avatar was gang-raped within 60 seconds of joining the platform. [21] Elena Martellozzo, an associate professor of criminology at Middlesex University says that such abuse may be the result of disinhibition due to the lack of face-to-face interaction that is exacerbated on the metaverse. [21]

In 2022, a BBC News researcher posing as a 13-year-old girl on VRChat was approached by adult men and directed to sex shops. [22] BBC News also reported that a safety campaigner knows of children who were groomed in games and forced to take part in virtual sex. [22]

More examples of sexual assault in the virtual reality space include an incident in 2021 — Chanelle Siggens logged into the virtual reality game Population One and another player simulated groping and ejaculating on her. [23]

In 2024, the BBC reported that police were investigating a virtual sexual assault case. [24]

Sweatshops

The virtual economies of many MMOs, and the exchange of virtual items and currency for real money, has triggered the birth of the in-game sweatshop. In virtual sweatshops, workers in the developing world — typically China, although there have been reports of this type of activity in Eastern European countries — earn real-world wages for long days spent monotonously performing in-game tasks. [25] Instances typically involve farming of resources or currency, which has given rise to the epithet Chinese Adena Farmer, because of its first reported widespread use in Lineage II .

More egregious cases involve using exploits such as duping money or items. There have also been reports of collusion or vertical integration among farmers and online currency exchanges. In 2002, a company called Blacksnow Interactive, a game currency exchange, admitted to using workers in a "virtual sweatshop" in Tijuana, Mexico to farm money and items from Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot . [26] When Mythic Entertainment cracked down on the practice, Blacksnow attempted to sue the game company. [26]

Virtual Theft

In November 2007, it was reported that a Dutch teenager had been arrested for allegedly stealing virtual furniture from "rooms" in 3D social-networking website Habbo Hotel. [27] The teenagers involved were accused of creating fake Habbo websites in order to lure users into entering their account details, which would then be used to steal virtual furniture bought with real money totaling €4000. [28]

In China, Qiu Chengwei was sentenced to life in prison in 2005 after stabbing and killing fellow The Legend of Mir 3 gamer Zhu Caoyuan. [29] In the game Qiu had lent Zhu a powerful sword (a "dragon sabre"), which Zhu then went on to sell on eBay for 7,200 Yuan (about £473 or US$870). [29]

Virtual Mugging

The term "virtual mugging" was coined in Japan in 2005 when a player of Lineage II used bots to defeat other players’ characters and take their items. [30] The Kagawa prefectural police arrested a Chinese foreign exchange student on Aug. 16 following the reports of virtual mugging and online sales of the stolen items. [30]

Punishment

In Sweden a man threatened the families of 26 underage girls if they did not perform sexual acts online — he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and made to pay $131,590 in damages. [31] Official prosecution proceedings regarding virtual crime currently exist in countries like Sweden but not for a majority of the modern world. [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game.

<i>Neopets</i> Virtual pet site

Neopets is a free-to-play virtual pet website. First launched in 1999, the website allows users to own virtual pets ("Neopets") and explore a virtual world called "Neopia." Players can earn one of two virtual currencies. One currency, called Neopoints, can be obtained for free through on-site features like games, events, and contests. The other, Neocash (NC), is purchased with real-world money and can be exchanged for wearable items for pets.

A virtual economy is an emergent economy existing in a virtual world, usually exchanging virtual goods in the context of an online game, particularly in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). People enter these virtual economies for recreation and entertainment rather than necessity, which means that virtual economies lack the aspects of a real economy that are not considered to be "fun". However, some people do interact with virtual economies for "real" economic benefit.

<i>There</i> (virtual world) 2003 video game

There is a 3D online virtual world created by Will Harvey and Jeffrey Ventrella. There Inc. was founded in the spring of 1998. Closed beta began in July 2001, with various stages of beta following, and ending with an October 2003 launch date. On March 9, 2010 - one week after the announcement of its closure on March 2, 2010 - There.com shut its doors to the public.

<i>Second Life</i> Online virtual world

Second Life is an online multimedia platform that allows people to create an avatar for themselves and then interact with other users and user-created content within a multi-user online virtual world. Developed and owned by the San Francisco–based firm Linden Lab and launched on June 23, 2003, it saw rapid growth for some years and in 2013 it had approximately one million regular users. Growth eventually stabilized, and by the end of 2017 the active user count had declined to "between 800,000 and 900,000". In many ways, Second Life is similar to massively multiplayer online role-playing games; nevertheless, Linden Lab is emphatic that their creation is not a game: "There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual world</span> Large-scale, interactive computer-simulated environment

A virtual world is a computer-simulated environment which may be populated by many users who can create a personal avatar, and simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities and communicate with others. These avatars can be textual, graphical representations, or live video avatars with auditory and touch sensations. Virtual worlds are closely related to mirror worlds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaia Online</span> Anime-centered social media and forum website

Gaia Online is an English-language, anime-themed social networking and forums-based website with Chibi-style animations. It was founded as go-gaia on February 18, 2003, by Derek Liu, Long Vo, Josh Gainsbrugh, and the name was changed to GaiaOnline.com in 2004 by its owner, Gaia Interactive. Gaia originally began as an anime linklist and eventually developed a small community, but following a statement by founder Derek Liu, the website moved towards social gaming and eventually became forum-based.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avatar (computing)</span> Graphical representation of a user or a users alter ego or character

In computing, an avatar is a graphical representation of a user, the user's character, or persona. Avatars can be two-dimensional icons in Internet forums and other online communities, where they are also known as profile pictures, userpics, or formerly picons. Alternatively, an avatar can take the form of a three-dimensional model, as used in online worlds and video games, or an imaginary character with no graphical appearance, as in text-based games or worlds such as MUDs.

Entropia Universe is a massively multiplayer online (MMORPG) virtual universe designed by the Swedish software company MindArk, based in Gothenburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metaverse</span> Collective three-dimensional virtual shared space

The metaverse is a loosely defined term referring to three-dimensional virtual worlds in which users represented by avatars interact.

"A Rape in Cyberspace, or How an Evil Clown, a Haitian Trickster Spirit, Two Wizards, and a Cast of Dozens Turned a Database into a Society" is an article written by freelance journalist Julian Dibbell and first published in The Village Voice in 1993. The article was later included in Dibbell's book My Tiny Life on his LambdaMOO experiences.

Gold farming is the practice of playing a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) to acquire in-game currency, later selling it for real-world money.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IMVU</span> Online 3D social platform

IMVU is an online virtual world and social networking site. IMVU was founded in 2004 and was originally backed by venture investors Menlo Ventures, AllegisCyber Capital, Bridgescale Partners, and Best Buy Capital. IMVU members use 3D avatars to meet new people, chat, create, and play games. In 2014, IMVU had approximately six million active players, and had the largest virtual goods catalog of more than 6 million items as of 2011. The business was previously located in Mountain View, California. It was known as one of the leading practitioners of the lean startup approach.

Roblox is a 2006 online game platform and game creation system developed by Roblox Corporation that allows users to program games and play games created by other users. Created by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004 and released in 2006, the platform hosts user-created games of multiple genres coded in the programming language Lua. For most of Roblox's history, it was relatively small, both as a platform and as a company. Roblox began to grow rapidly in the second half of the 2010s, and this growth has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual goods are non-physical objects and money purchased for use in online communities or online games. Digital goods, on the other hand, may be a broader category including digital books, music, and movies. Virtual goods are intangible by definition.

<i>Twinity</i> 2008 video game

Twinity is a 3D online virtual world. Initially developed by Metaversum GmbH, it is currently held by ExitReality. The game offers its population, called Twinizens, to navigate around virtual (historical) versions of real-world cities, also called a mirror world or a Metaverse. A public beta began in September 2008, with the release of the first virtual city, Berlin, which later was followed by Singapore, London, Miami and New York. Twinity is built on BigWorld Technology and its economy is based on a free-to-play model.

Decentraland is a 3D virtual world browser-based platform. Users may buy virtual plots of land in the platform as NFTs via the MANA cryptocurrency, which uses the Ethereum blockchain. Designers can create and sell clothes and accessories for the avatars to be used in the virtual world.

<i>Horizon Worlds</i> Virtual reality platform developed by Meta Platforms

Meta Horizon Worlds is a free virtual reality, online video game with an integrated game creation system developed and published by Meta Platforms. On this multi-player virtual platform, players move and interact with each other in various worlds that host events, games, and social activities. The game works on Oculus Rift S, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 3 headsets.

In the context of video games, a multiverse can refer to:

Metaverse law refers to legal systems, policies and theories concerning metaverse technologies involving virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and hyperreality.

References

  1. ↑ Cf. Brenner, Virtual Crime, 4 Cal. Crim. Law Rev. 1 at ¶125-27
  2. 1 2 Brenner, Susan (2001). "Is There Such a Thing as 'Virtual Crime'?". California Criminal Law Review. 4 (1).
  3. 1 2 3 Newton, Casey (2021-07-22). "Mark Zuckerberg is betting Facebook's future on the metaverse". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Nazir, Mohamed; Lui, Carrie Siu Man (2016-04-10). "A Brief History of Virtual Economy". Journal for Virtual Worlds Research. 9 (1). doi: 10.4101/jvwr.v9i1.7179 . ISSN   1941-8477.
  5. 1 2 Ritterbusch, Georg David; Teichmann, Malte Rolf (2023). "Defining the Metaverse: A Systematic Literature Review". IEEE Access. 11: 12368–12377. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3241809 . Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  6. ↑ Peters, Jay (2021-10-04). "What is the metaverse, and do I have to care?". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  7. ↑ "What Is the Metaverse and Why Should I Care?". Time. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  8. ↑ Chen, Brian (February 1, 2022). "What's All the Hype About the Metaverse?". New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  9. ↑ Kaplan, Andreas M.; Haenlein, Michael (2009-11-01). "The fairyland of Second Life: Virtual social worlds and how to use them". Business Horizons. 52 (6): 563–572. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2009.07.002. ISSN   0007-6813.
  10. ↑ Aichner, Thomas; Jacob, Frank (March 2015). "Measuring the Degree of Corporate Social Media Use". International Journal of Market Research. 57 (2): 257–276. doi:10.2501/IJMR-2015-018. ISSN   1470-7853.
  11. ↑ "Does virtual crime need real justice?". 2003-09-29. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  12. ↑ "MDY Industries, LLC v. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. et al, No. 2:2006cv02555 - Document 82 (D. Ariz. 2008)". Justia Law. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  13. ↑ Lastowka, Greg and Hunter, Dan, Virtual Crime. Available at SSRN: SSRN   564801
  14. ↑ HG.org. "When Virtual Crimes Become Crimes IRL". HG.org. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 Brenner, Susan (Fall 2008). "Fantasy Crime: The Role of Criminal Law in Virtual Worlds". Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. 11 (1): 1–97 – via HeinOnline.
  16. ↑ "Evangeline: interview with a child cyber-prostitute in tso | the alphaville herald" (in Russian). 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  17. ↑ "Roblox 'gang rape' shocks mother". BBC News. 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  18. ↑ staff, Village Voice (2018-07-25). "Before Roblox: An Online Rape When Cyberspace Was New". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  19. ↑ jbonty@daily-journal.com | 815-937-3366, Jeff Bonty | (2021-07-23). "Man charged with soliciting juvenile through Roblox". The Daily Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. 1 2 "Meta opens up access to VR social platform Horizon Worlds - The Verge". 2022-05-28. Archived from the original on 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  21. 1 2 "'Repeated rape threats': The scourge of sexual violence and racist abuse in the metaverse | The Independent". Independent.co.uk . 2022-04-12. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  22. 1 2 "Metaverse app allows kids into virtual strip clubs". BBC News. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  23. ↑ Frenkel, Sheera (December 30, 2021). "The Metaverse's Dark Side: Here Come Harassment and Assaults". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Police investigate virtual sex assault on girl's avatar". BBC News. 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  25. ↑ Mayer, Aaron (2019-11-18). "Virtual Sweatshops". Impact Labs. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  26. 1 2 "JULIAN DIBBELL". www.juliandibbell.com. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  27. ↑ Johnson, Bobbie; correspondent, technology (2007-11-15). "Police arrest teenager over virtual theft". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  28. ↑ "'Virtual theft' leads to arrest". 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  29. 1 2 "Chinese online gamer gets life for murder". NBC News. 2005-06-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  30. 1 2 Knight, Will (August 18, 2005). "Computer characters mugged in virtual crime spree". New Scientist. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  31. 1 2 Cole, Samantha (2017-12-01). "In a First, a Man Is Charged for Rape Over the Internet". Vice. Retrieved 2023-11-08.

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