Police are investigating a virtual sexual assault of a girl’s avatar, the chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has said.

Donna Jones said she had learned that a complaint was made in 2023, triggering a police inquiry.

The virtual incident did not result in physical harm but caused “psychological trauma”, the Daily Mail has reported a source as saying. Police chiefs have called on platforms to do more to protect their users.

The impact of the attack on the girl’s avatar was said to be heightened because of the immersive nature of the VR experience.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      “I think they shouldn’t have worn such a short skirt.”

      How about we don’t blame people for others sexually harassing or assaulting them?

      Especially when they’re trying to have some harmless fun.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          And if the game doesn’t have that option? There’s no legal requirement to have that option. Maybe there should be?

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              I have never seen a ‘block and report’ feature on any OS. And there is certainly no requirement for games to use it if there were.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                  11 months ago

                  Right where in what quick access menu? I don’t even know what you’re talking about, but I have no idea why you think some ‘report’ button on, for example, Windows, would send a report to the game company who would then act on the sexual harassment. It’s also certainly not universal to all OSes and consoles.

                  • FellowEnt@sh.itjust.works
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                    11 months ago

                    I’m talking about VR devices, which don’t run Windows, for example using any Meta headset, App developers are required to make in-app reporting accessible when you press menu and select Report abuse from the universal menu. The report abuse button is one button click away at all times.