According to new NSPCC study, offenders are using virtual reality (VR) to groom and sexually assault children, as well as distribute illicit photos of abuse.
Based on the report commissioned by a children’s charity on VR and immersive technologies, perpetrators are using the online spaces at the heart of the technology to not only engage with children, but also to replicate acts of abuse.
It warned that offenders are being desensitised to their own actions as a result of the anonymity provided by such venues through the deployment of customised, digital avatars to represent each individual present, which the research stated criminals are hiding behind.
Virtual reality platforms are built on a person wearing a headset that immerses them in a virtual world where they may see and interact with other users as well as consume material, and are viewed as the next iteration of the internet by some.
The study, however, cautioned that these VR environments encourage the formation of close-knit offender networks, which could be used to distribute child sexual abuse material and lead to an increase in hazardous actions.
In response, the NSPCC has urged technology companies to do more to guarantee that virtual reality platforms are safe by design, such as by including improved kid safety features and reporting mechanisms.
It additionally called on the government to provide more guidelines, financing, and training opportunities for law enforcement officers on how to deal with virtual reality platforms.
With the Online Safety Bill set to continue its passage through Parliament this week, the charity suggested that the government examine the bill’s safety regime on a regular basis to ensure that it keeps up with evolving technologies and hazards to guarantee they are sufficiently covered by the legislation.
Richard Collard, head of child safety policy at the NSPCC, said: “These shocking findings should be a wake-up call to us all about the harm young people are facing when engaging with immersive technology.
“Technology will continue to progress, and so must we to ensure that we can understand the existing and emerging risks that young people face in these virtual spaces.
“As the Online Safety Bill completes its passage through Parliament, it is vital that new and emerging technology forms a crucial part of the online safety regime.