Interpol investigating how to fight metaverse crimes

The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) has revealed that it’s investigating how to fight metaverse-related crimes effectively.

Interpol sets sights on metaverse crime fighting 

Having successfully launched the world’s first global police metaverse last December, the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO), popularly known as Interpol, has revealed that it’s actively investigating ways to tackle metaverse crimes effectively.

At a time when the concept of the metaverse and NFTs are fast revolutionizing several sectors of the global economy, with a vast array of high-profile businesses now live in the virtual world, Interpol secretary general, Jurgen Stock has buttressed the need for law enforcement agents to be proactive when it comes to fighting crimes in the metaverse.

“Criminals quickly adapt to any new technological tool that is available to commit a crime. We need to sufficiently respond to that. Sometimes lawmakers, police, and our societies are running a little bit behind.”

Jurgen Stock, Interpol secretary general.

Metaverse crimes on the rise 

According to a report by Citibank, the metaverse economy could be worth a massive $13 trillion by 2030, with as many as five billion users occupying the virtual world. Sadly, bad actors are not oblivious to this fact and these criminals are already perpetuating their dirty acts in the metaverse.

In recent months, there have been several cases of metaverse-related crimes, including sexual harassment, phishing attacks, and others. 

However, despite the foregoing, Dr. Madan Oberoi, Interpol executive director, has hinted that the organization is having a hard time defining these metaverse crimes. 

“There are crimes where I don’t know whether it can still be called a crime or not. For example, there have been reported cases of sexual harassment and if you look at the definitions of these crimes in the real world, and you try to apply it in the metaverse, there is a difficulty.”

Dr. Madan Oberoi, Interpol executive director.

Oberoi further stated that though the agency still does not know how to define metaverse crimes, the fact still remains that, “those threats are definitely there, so those issues are yet to be resolved.”

To solve this worrying problem, Nina Jane Patel, co-founder and head of Kabuni, a metaverse research project, has suggested that Interpol should apply real-world rules to metaverse activities. “That which is illegal and harmful in the real world should be illegal in the metaverse as well,” she stated.