From Virtual Rape to Meta-rape: Sexual Violence, Criminal Law and the Metaverse

Area of Science:

• Digital Ethics
• Cyberpsychology
• Law and Technology

Background:

• The metaverse integrates physical and virtual realities, with haptic technology enhancing immersion.
• This evolving digital space is increasingly a venue for sexual violence, including non-consensual touching and image-based abuse.
• Existing legal frameworks often fail to adequately address these novel forms of gendered harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the concept and terminology of 'meta-rape' to describe sexual violence in the metaverse.
• To categorize metaverse sexual harassment and abuse experiences.
• To analyze the applicability of criminal law to meta-rape and propose legal enhancements.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of metaverse sexual violence.
• Development of a new categorization for metaverse sexual harms.
• Examination of current criminal law and its potential application to meta-rape.
• Proposal for legal reforms, including laws against intimate intrusions.

Main Results:

• Identifies 'meta-rape' as a distinct form of embodied sexual violence in virtual environments.
• Provides a novel classification of sexual harassment and abuse within the metaverse.
• Suggests that existing criminal laws may be applicable to certain meta-rape incidents.

Conclusions:

• Reframing meta-rape is crucial for addressing its prevalence and impact.
• Current criminal laws can potentially address some meta-rape cases.
• Strengthening and future-proofing laws are necessary to protect users and ensure safety in virtual spaces.