Exploding in its use cases for immersive digital ecosystems, the metaverse is also becoming a playground for tech-savvy criminals. The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO), also known as Interpol, is now concerned that crime in the metaverse is on the rise. These crimes include phishing, money laundering, sexual harassment, data theft and counterfeiting. Interpol is now looking at ways to closely monitor metaverse-related crimes. The organization, headquartered in Lyon, France, is now attempting to define “crimes in the Metaverse” by comparing them to real-world adversities.
Interpol started one of their own metaverse in October 2022 during its 90th General Assembly, held in New Delhi, India.
After launch, the organization noticed that notorious players in the digital world were looking for victims and getting away with boatloads of money in largely anonymous transactions.
Jürgen Stock, Interpol’s secretary general, believes the agency must be well-trained to deal with these New Age crimes in a timely manner to avoid major disasters.
“Criminals are sophisticated and skilled at adapting very quickly to any new technological tool available to commit crimes. We have to react sufficiently to that,” the BBC said quoted stick as said.
A fully functional virtual universe based on the Decentralized blockchain Networks, Metaverse technology enables people to exist in a parallel digital world. Metaverse natives can meet, work, party and play as digital avatars in the virtual world.
Social media, gaming, advertising as well as the automotive industry are expected beneficiaries of the boom in adopting industrial metaverses.
A recently World Economic Forum Blog Also predicts that industry organizations are more likely to adopt the Metaverse than individuals, raising the stakes cybercriminalswho could rake in large amounts of money from metaverse-friendly companies.
Interpol, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 31, is currently faced with the challenge of determining the frequency and scale of crimes targeting Metaverse users.
It will analyze criminal behavior in the digital ecosystems and take appropriate measures to curb crime in the times to come.
Last year, Interpol also unveiled a special investigative unit dedicated to fighting and solving crypto crimes.
