Convicted pedophiles say it is “stupidly easy” to sexually abuse and exploit kids using online virtual reality (VR) spaces, according to a new study from the British National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The study – backed by the country’s National Crime Agency (NCA) – found that sexual predators are using games that simulate child abuse on the dark web, and are able to disguise their age and identity using avatars.
The technology enables users to experience the so-called “phantom touch,” whereby the brain fills gaps in sensory output, allowing the body to experience a physical touch without the consent of someone on the other end. The spaces also allow pedophiles to create communities for sharing child sexual abuse materials.
One user who spent some 78 hours reviewing a leading VR app subsequently claimed that it “was a cesspit full of paedophiles,” with researchers going so far as to suggest that VR is “ready-made to be exploited by sexual predators.”
“These shocking findings should be a wake-up call to us all about the harm young people are facing when engaging with immersive technology,” stated Richard Collard, Head of Child Safety Online at NSPCC.
“Technology will continue to progress, and so must we ensure that we can understand the existing and emerging risks that young people face in these virtual spaces,” he added.
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