Are There Real-World Consequences for Metaverse Behavior?

At the Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, our skilled criminal defense attorneys in Raleigh know that online virtual worlds are already functioning in real-time, as platforms like Roblox and Second Life have been operating for more than a decade, and are just the tip of the Metaverse spear.

With increasing broadband speeds, virtual reality headsets, and online worlds up and running around the clock, Metaverse has the capacity to transform the way people work, play, and socialize.

With virtual reality technologies gaining momentum, these components present significant risks for exploitation that can lead to real-world legal consequences.

Here is what our North Carolina residents need to know about their participation and online behavior in the Metaverse.

What is Metaverse?

Metaverse is an online virtual world that incorporates virtual and augmented reality, video, 3D holographic avatars, and other means of communication for real people to interact and coexist in a hyper-real alternative online world.

Made popular by games like Fortnite and Minecraft, the term Metaverse first debuted in pop culture in 1992 in Neal Stephenson’s science fiction novel, “Snow Crash.”

In the book, the author described lifelike avatars who met in virtual reality environments that included realistic 3D buildings, cities, and environments.

Fast forward nearly 30 years, and the Metaverse is fully functioning through a combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and video where users interact, shop, and entertain within a digital universe.

How Metaverse Behavior Can Have Real-World Consequences

Like the current challenges, society faces with social media and video games, some of the most common criminal charges that may become associated with the Metaverse that immediately stands out include fraud, money laundering, child exploitation, and cyberattacks.

As more and more people enter the Metaverse, internet sex crimes charges could easily be brought for harassment, child pornography, solicitation, and other serious, real-life crimes that will carry real consequences, including jail time.

Contact Our Skilled Criminal Defense Attorneys in North Carolina at The Marcilliat & Mills PLLC

If you have been charged with a crime stemming from your participation in a Metaverse platform, contact our skilled criminal defense attorneys in North Carolina at the Marcilliat & Mills PLLC today to learn how we can help you strategically design a proper defense for your unique case by calling (919) 838-6643 or contact us online, so we can get ahead of your charges.