Crimes That Occur in Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is a pretty standard and ubiquitous technology in the present times. It has taken off like nothing else and is being incorporated in a plethora of industries today.

However, if you thought the virtual world was without crimes or misdemeanors, you ought to give it another thought. Yes, you heard that right!

Crimes in virtual reality do exist, and this post explains everything there is to know about virtual reality crimes.

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What Is VR Crime And How Can A Crime Occur In VR?

A VR crime is basically any crime that takes place in the virtual world. These crimes take place using computers, the internet, or digital software.

In fact, virtual outlets like Microsoft HoloLens and The Oculus Rift allow these crimes to be carried out using VR hardware in addition to a software interface. Therefore, as much as we think that the virtual world is left untainted with the hands of criminal activities, the reality is not pretty.

Although you indeed need a lot more money to commit a crime in virtual reality, it is still a very real possibility.

What Is The Law & Order Of VR Crime?

If you didn’t know that crimes could be executed in Virtual Reality, then you will probably also be new to the idea of convicting the criminals using VR. However, it is now possible.

VR specialists and FBI agents share that this technology is expected to change the court scene in the coming years.

To this effect, the VR production house Newseum has even built a unique experience that demonstrates the potential of VR in the legal system. In the same vein, several new technologies such as computer imaging, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and VR crime scene robots are increasingly providing novel options to juries, law enforcement, and criminalists.

It is also interesting to note that jurors in a courtroom in California in 1992 even made use of headsets to watch a POV reconstruction (a lot like VR) of an accident. We have come a long way since then, and the future of VR as an investigative tool in solving crimes is supremely promising.

All this clearly shows that virtual reality has the potential to be a real game-changer when it comes to convicting criminals.

Types Of Virtual Reality Crimes

According to statistics, this year, around 42.9 million people are expected to use VR, and approximately 68.7 million people will use AR in the US alone at least once every month. This boom in the usage of these emerging technologies has also brought with it a certain level of crime.

Here are some crimes that occur in virtual reality!

• Money Laundering

Money laundering is a crime because it enables criminals to profit from illegal activity, i.e., transferring money that has been obtained illegally into a legal, financial system such as a bank or a legitimate business.

Digital currency is widespread today, and many virtual worlds use their system of currency. Ultimately, users use this currency to buy products and services in the virtual world. This, at times, can offer criminals all the entry points they need for money laundering.

They launder money in the virtual world by exchanging money that has been obtained illegally for in-game currency.

• Prostitution

Prostitution is another real crime that can be committed in the online world. In essence, the world of VR can be exploited to arrange sexual encounters with money exchanging hands metaphorically.

However, just because the action is taking place within a virtual world does not make it any less criminal. It is subject to prosecution in the same way it would be in the real world.

People who pay for simulated sexual contact can also be punished by law as it is considered to be a form of prostitution in some jurisdictions. 

• Terrorism

Terrorism is another real threat in the virtual world and is already quite prevalent in VR. As VR is becoming less expensive and delivering a more immersive experience, it is also a sure-shot target for terrorist groups who could not only plan but also execute full-fledged attacks in this world.

Terrorist organizations can easily use the increased accessibility of this technology to plot and carry out attacks on a large scale. This, for instance, has prompted the US military to conduct live, constructive, and virtual training by way of simulating terrorist tactics in an attack.

• Sexual Assault

Thanks to the immense immersion offered by the virtual reality platform, sexual assault is a genuine possibility in this realm. Assault victims in the virtual world can go through the same trauma as that felt by the victims in the real world.

That said, the sheer act, as well as the consequences of the crime in both worlds, is naturally different. In this regard, the degree of punishment can also vary. However, the definition of sexual assault cannot be changed, regardless of whether it takes place in a physical or a virtual world.

• Identity Theft

Finally, identity theft can easily be regarded as one of the more obvious crimes that can occur in the virtual world. There is scope for criminals to use the virtual world to pass themselves off as another person, which is a clear cut case of identity theft.

It can be done for many reasons, such as to use an individual’s credit card details to purchase expensive products or other illegal activities.

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Final Words

And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to virtual reality crimes. You can expect death threats, intellectual property theft, cybercrime, stalking, and much more on the virtual reality platform.

Today, digital technology is a very comfortable asset to humanity. It allows people not just to connect with each other but also to simplify a lot of their day-to-day tasks.

However, as and when newer technologies emerge, there is a natural need to grapple with their ethical and legal issues.