Virtual policing: into the metaverse?

The term ‘metaverse’ was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. Since then, protagonists in sci-fi books and movies have donned reality goggles and entered the metaverse (or the author’s iteration of it), to escape their real worlds.

That type of an escape is now available outside of the literary or cinematographic realm for anyone with as little as a mobile phone, although to experience its immersivity, a virtual reality headset or augmented reality smart glasses are recommended.

A number of companies have now invested billions of dollars in securing their presence in the meta-land. The most notable of these was Facebook, which subsequently rebranded itself as ‘Meta’ in October 2021 with the intention of creating a virtual environment for the social media platform. Other companies such as Microsoft and Google have since followed suit. The metaverse is often described as a shared ‘imaginary realm’, accessed through virtual reality equipment. Its creators and investors hope that it will eventually become a digital ecosystem, where individuals, through their virtual representation (ie an avatar) can experience a virtual or augmented reality. In its current form, the metaverse is not a singular entity. Rather, it can be described as a multitude ofplatforms created by companies and other entities offering users various degrees of online and offline immersion.

Some versions of the metaverse include so-called ‘digital twins’, which allow users to experience a model of an offline entity that represents it, with a high degree of real-time accuracy. INTERPOL’s digital metaverse twin is not as breakthrough an invention as it might first appear, as various ‘twins’ have been inhabiting metaverse(s) for a while. For example, the Seoul Metropolitan Government in South Korea has been piloting a virtual version of mayor’s office, which it hopes to be fully operational by 2026. Singapore-based company VIZZIO Technologies created the largest digital twin by ‘cloning’ the nation of Singapore, with a hope of it being used to improve environmental sustainability in the future.

INTERPOL’s ‘digital twin’ is the first such experience designed specifically for law enforcement. Meta-INTERPOL is so far limited to a ‘clone’ of the organisation’s headquarters in Lyon, France; users are able, through virtual reality headsets, to tour INTERPOL’s virtual offices and connect with other law enforcement professionals. The platform will also offer immersive training activities for various policing work, including forensic investigations, travel document verification and passenger screening, and will let their trainees try their hand at a virtual border checkpoint. INTERPOL have stated that their platform is ‘fully operational’ and can be accessed by registered users through the INTERPOL Secure Cloud. As far as we are aware, it is not yet possible for non-law enforcement professionals to virtually tour the meta-HQ.

INTERPOL’s meta-presence is no doubt a response to the steady increase in cybercrime, including crimes committed in the metaverse(s). The idea behind the platform is to create a space for training and communication, which, similarly to the real-life INTERPOL, aims to promote mutual assistance and co-operation and to offer training and investigative support to its members.

Unsurprisingly, meta-INTERPOL has not put itself in a position to police the metaverse(s). Similarly, while police forces in Norway and France—to name a few—already have an online presence on social media and gaming and streaming platforms, none have yet ventured into the metaverse(s).

This is not to say that it is something they have not considered. EUROPOL’s recent report ‘Policing in the metaverse: what law enforcement needs to know’ highlighted a high level of threat presented by activities in the metaverse(s): identity fraud, financial crimes, harassment and child abuse and exploitation, terrorism and mis- and disinformation. As a recommended response, EUROPOL advocates for law enforcement agencies to start building experience with establishing an online presence, but shies away from making concrete recommendations on law enforcement entering the metaverse(s).

It is worth asking whether there is in fact a need for the meta-police at this point. When it comes to virtual offences in the metaverse, the law, at least in the UK, can be applied to the metaverse(s). Similarly, the jurisdictional conundrums posed by potential complainants and defendants being based in different jurisdictions should not pose insurmountable obstacles to prosecutions. The real-life police should be, at least in theory, capable of investigating virtual offences, particularly if they follow EUROPOL’s recommendations of staying up to date on developments in the cyber sphere and building the experience to respond to fast-paced changes in the virtual world.

Whether INTERPOL’s decision to put meta-boots onto the meta-ground is the first step towards meta-policing remains to be seen. Although creating a fully virtual investigative task force remains a hypothetical idea, it is worth remembering that time and tide wait for no man, and neither will metaverse crimes. Before avatar police officers take to the streets of the metaverse(s), law enforcement agencies need to continue to adapt to the blurring of lines between real and virtual worlds, and to ensure that their techniques are robust and adequately regulated enough to respond to the fast-changing landscape of online criminality.

about the author

Magda Zima is an associate lawyer in the Criminal Litigation team. She deals with all areas of general crime, financial and business crime, international crime and investigations.

Alice Trotter is a trainee solicitor at Kingsley Napley and is currently in the final seat with the Family, having completed her third seat with the Criminal Litigation team, her second seat with the Corporate, Commercial and Finance team and her first seat in the Regulatory team.

This article was first published in the New Law Journal on 17th February 2023.