British police are currently investigating a gang rape involving a 16 year old girls avatar in a virtual reality game. The girl was immersed in a virtual reality game when a group of men raped her avatar. She did not suffer any physical damage, but psychological damage similar to someone who has been raped in the actual world.

You might be wondering, what even is the metaverse? The metaverse is a 3-D-enabled digital space that uses virtual reality and other advanced internet and semiconductor technology to allow people to have lifelike personal and business experiences online. It acts as an alternative or replica to the real world and can be used as a playground for socializing, gaming or even for business.

There have been other cases of avatars being gang raped or ‘groped’ in the metaverse. Many games and VR Spaces are working to solve these security issues that might make the meta space unsafe. Some of them include a safety button that once can press to block them from being touched until they deactivate the setting.

Critics have complained that the British police have a backlog on rape cases in the real world but are investing their energy into this virtual rape. However they are standing on the notion that sexual harassment is sexual harassment, whether virtual or physical.