January 6th 2024.
British police are currently investigating a case of virtual rape, believed to be the first of its kind. According to the New York Post, the victim, a sixteen-year-old girl, was playing a video game in virtual reality when her avatar was assaulted by a group of men. Though she was not physically harmed, investigators believe she may suffer the same psychological trauma as a victim of a real rape.
This case has provoked questions among law enforcement agents and government officials, who are concerned that investigating virtual rape may divert resources away from real rape cases. In response, Home Secretary James Cleverly has defended the case in a television interview, pointing out that virtual environments can be incredibly immersive.
"We're talking about a child here, and a child has gone through sexual trauma," Cleverly said.
Though this is the first investigation of its kind, there have been numerous reports of sexual assault in the virtual world, particularly in the game Horizon Worlds, owned by Facebook's parent company Meta. The company has implemented a safety feature called 'personal boundary', which keeps people from getting too close to the user. However, advocates are hoping that the new Online Safety Bill in the UK will set a legal precedent to protect children and adults online.
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