The Secretary General of Interpol, Jurgen Stock, has announced that the organization is actively exploring the possibility of policing crime in the metaverse, the widely-discussed concept of an online space where people are represented by 3D avatars. Recognizing that criminals can be quick to adapt to new technologies, Stock believes that it is important for Interpol to not fall behind. To this end, Interpol has created its own virtual reality space where users can attend virtual meetings and receive training.
In this virtual environment, police officers can experience what the metaverse may look like and anticipate the types of crimes that may occur. The VR space is accessed through secure servers and allows officers to get a sense of the challenges of policing in a virtual world.
The concept of the metaverse is still in its infancy, but some believe it could become the future of the internet, a virtual world accessible through a headset that connects a variety of digital environments.
However, as the metaverse is still an idea and has no agreed-upon definition, Interpol’s investigation is limited to virtual worlds. In these virtual worlds, there have already been instances of real-life problems that highlight the need for policing. The goal of Interpol’s efforts is to ensure that the metaverse if it ever comes to fruition, is a safe and trustworthy space for all users.
