Population: One stranger sexually abuses Chanelle Siggins

A female gamer reported being sexually abused by another player on virtual reality game platform Population: One her Oculus Quest virtual reality headset.

Logging into the Meta-owned Population: One app, Chanelle Siggens reported being approached by another player, who then 'simulated groping and ejaculating onto her avatar.' Chanelle said she was stunned by the incident and distanced her avatar, only to be groped by a different user one hour later. She later reported the issue to Meta.

The incident prompted concerns about the safety of the Population: One app, and about Meta's metaverses more generally. Lawyers also highlighted the likely lack of legal remedy when there is no actual physical 'touching' involved.

Research, advocacy 🧮

• SumOfUs (2022). Metaverse: another cesspool of toxic content (pdf)

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/technology/metaverse-harassment-assaults.html

• https://www.brownulr.org/blogposts/metalaw-navigating-sexual-assault-and-harassment-in-the-metaverse

• https://nypost.com/2022/05/27/women-are-being-sexually-assaulted-in-the-metaverse/

• https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/sexual-assault-in-the-metaverse