Children's charity claims kids are 'at risk' of abuse in virtual reality tech

The NSPCC has released a study highlighting how virtual reality is putting children at risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The research was undertaken to assess what present and future risks children may face when using virtual reality.

The research paints a "concerning" picture of abuse taking place through immersive technology and illustrates the harm that children are already facing in these spaces.

This comes ahead of the Online Safety Bill being debated in the House of Lords this week and emphasises the important role regulation will play in tackling technology-assisted child sexual abuse once this ground-breaking piece of legislation has been passed.

Key findings

Key findings from the research include:

• VR multiuser spaces provide opportunities for offenders to commit child sexual abuse and exploitation against a child.
• ‘Phantom touch’ can mean that victims of VR sexual abuse experience the physical sensation of being touched without their consent.
• Offenders are using simulated child sexual abuse games on the dark web and through private networks that “mirror” the way they would abuse children offline.
• VR multiuser spaces can desensitise offenders with avatar disguise and anonymity ‘normalising’ their abusive behaviour.
• Multiuser VR worlds invite the creation of tighter knit offender ‘communities’, allowing for the sharing of child sexual abuse material and harmful behaviours to amplify and escalate.

Recommendations

The report recommends that technology companies and Ofcom should ensure robust child safety features and guidance exists, and that Governments should provide more opportunity for training for law enforcement on the issue.

It also recommends that the Government review the Online Safety Bill (Act) on a rolling basis to ensure that emerging harms are adequately covered under the law.

The findings from this research are due to be presented to key politicians, government officials and charity partners at an event in Parliament today.

'Shocking findings'

Richard Collard, Head of Child Safety Online 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. This will only be made possible through clear collaboration between educators, parents, policymakers, and the technology industry.”

'Rapidly evolving tech'

A specialist covert officer, who was interviewed in the research, said: “Virtual reality headsets and VR spaces are already being misused by those with ill intentions. These technologies further expose children to the risk of abuse, whilst at the same time reducing opportunities for intervention, safeguarding and appropriate prosecutions.

“2023 sees technology being abused in ways that we would not have accurately predicted 12 months ago. This underlines the need for legislators, law enforcement and technology companies to work closer together and at a pace that better reflects the rapidly evolving tech."

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