…the policeman said. If you don't know what I am talking about from those three words in the title you are officially obliged to leave this page, go to the library or book shop and get all the Philip K. Dick
Hey! Real life cops are strolling the streets of Second Life! First Linden Labs invited FBI to check the in-world casinos. Now we hear that Belgium police patrols the sims in search for virtual sex criminals. As news says in this world of "deviant personalities who dress up as 'furries'" somebody reported a rape attempt so cops dropped by to see what's going on. Aside the question if it is possible to rape somebody on-line or we are talking of sexual harassment (not that harassing someone is not a crime), it seems more like RL authorities are doing a bit of spying job than really keeping us safe.
Metaverse is more and more a puzzle for all of us. It is developing fast and its connections with so-called real life becomes too complicated. At first, it was land of geeks, then adventurists came, than gamers, businessmen followed… Now, we have our colorful world with all its diversity. There is no single set of social rules nor we all play the same game. That is good. That is what makes the world interesting. Not only the roles we play in it but the roles we play in our real lives that made us become second life's residents.
But it seems like hell's broke loose when first embassy and police step on the grid. It is not just a game anymore, not even platform for business and fun. There is big money, there is some urge to make things going by law and order. Problem is, how to make law in a world diverse like metaverse is, and how to force order with no institution (not counting Linden Lab) that covers all the grid?
So the cops joined the party. That is pretty different from those role-playing cops of second life, most of them lamers that like to dress up and feel important. These are for real. Nobody knows if they can bust your ass in jail or something, but supposedly they should be able to make some trouble. Otherwise, that would be the most hilarious wasting of tax money ever seen in both worlds. But, honestly, are they able to do anything relevant? Not talking about feds and second life gambling. That case can go pretty far and have serious consequences. But, what about things like sexual harassment?
Is police capable and authorized to do anything about someone who is without payment info, and whose crime is verbal? To get things straight: griefing in the form of virtual rape is misbehaving which we need to be protected of. But it is still verbal delict. That is, it is hard to prove. Now, have in mind that there is real life police of one country trying to work in the metaverse, to get the offender from whichever country and to do what? To cage him?
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