Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2007 11:36:54 GMT
Five News uncovers dark side of virtual world Second Life
Issued: October 30, 2007
[Tuesday 30 October at 1130, 1730 and 1900 on Five News]
· Virtual paedophiles act out sick fantasies · Zones that encourage rape and torture Second Life, the popular 3D virtual world, is home to a growing number of virtual paedophiles acting out their fantasies, according to a Five News investigation to be broadcast today (Tuesday 30 October) at 1130am, 5.30pm and 7pm on Channel Five.
As a result of the Five News investigation CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency, will be sending a team of virtual detectives – controlled by real-life officers - into Second Life and other on-line communities to try to infiltrate the growing number of paedophile networks exploiting virtual worlds.
Jim Gamble, chief executive of CEOP, told Five News: "We'll use under cover detectives as and when appropriate. We'll infiltrate theses rings whether they are in Second Life, in chat rooms, using social networking environments, peer groups or outside local youth clubs in the real world."
He said: "We talk about the virtual arena as if it is somehow unreal. Virtual crime has real victims, ultimately and we have seen it time and time again. My concern is that when they step out of the fantasy world they bring that fantasy with them into the real world and they ultimately seek to act that out. We're talking about adults in an environment where they are fantasising about brutal acts of sexual intercourse with children."
Five's Crime Correspondent Jason Farrell discovered a dark side to Second Life, which has a population of over 9 million, including areas where the rape and torture of other computer-generated characters, or avatars, is encouraged.
Farrell turned virtual undercover reporter for several months. During this time he witnessed both the positive side to Second Life - where you can find a real life job, learn about campaign groups, go dancing and even test drive a car - and the negative, disturbing side.
In one virtual island he discovered what looked like a real life playground called Wonderland, hidden behind a shopping centre. But the child-like avatars here were not just playing on swings, they were offering sex for Linden dollars, the currency used in Second Life that can be converted into real dollars.
Farrell said: "There were virtual children of all ages, even toddlers. After talking to one child I was offered a range of sordid and sick sexual acts. My avatar had entered a virtual paedophile ring. Obviously, I declined the offers and reported my disturbing findings to CEOPS."
Five News Editor David Kermode said: “What Jason Farrell’s investigation discovered is shocking. However, it is at least encouraging that our findings have prompted the authorities who try to police the net to take action.”
Every avatar and every zone is controlled by a real person. The child avatars are more than likely controlled by male adults. Second Life has become the perfect place for paedophiles to meet and encourage one another’s fantasies; and, if they want to, swap real images of child abuse.
The Home Secretary Jacquie Smith said today she was planning to publish a consultation paper on whether to outlaw virtual imagery of child abuse used in virtual on-line worlds.
She told Five News: “We are concerned about the way in which using computer generated images people might be developing a set of behaviours that could then go on to used to harm children.”
NSPCC policy advisor Zoe Hilton said: "It is not okay to fantasise about this stuff. These kind of interactions need to be shut down."
Jason's will be broadcast on Five News today (Tuesday 30 October) at 1130am, 5.30pm and 7pm on Channel Five.
Atherstone based company www.thewalkinweb.com/
sees virtual communities as the way forward in business (personally I see the way forward as having a readable home page), they're currently promoting their virtual atherstone on second life.
Issued: October 30, 2007
[Tuesday 30 October at 1130, 1730 and 1900 on Five News]
· Virtual paedophiles act out sick fantasies · Zones that encourage rape and torture Second Life, the popular 3D virtual world, is home to a growing number of virtual paedophiles acting out their fantasies, according to a Five News investigation to be broadcast today (Tuesday 30 October) at 1130am, 5.30pm and 7pm on Channel Five.
As a result of the Five News investigation CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency, will be sending a team of virtual detectives – controlled by real-life officers - into Second Life and other on-line communities to try to infiltrate the growing number of paedophile networks exploiting virtual worlds.
Jim Gamble, chief executive of CEOP, told Five News: "We'll use under cover detectives as and when appropriate. We'll infiltrate theses rings whether they are in Second Life, in chat rooms, using social networking environments, peer groups or outside local youth clubs in the real world."
He said: "We talk about the virtual arena as if it is somehow unreal. Virtual crime has real victims, ultimately and we have seen it time and time again. My concern is that when they step out of the fantasy world they bring that fantasy with them into the real world and they ultimately seek to act that out. We're talking about adults in an environment where they are fantasising about brutal acts of sexual intercourse with children."
Five's Crime Correspondent Jason Farrell discovered a dark side to Second Life, which has a population of over 9 million, including areas where the rape and torture of other computer-generated characters, or avatars, is encouraged.
Farrell turned virtual undercover reporter for several months. During this time he witnessed both the positive side to Second Life - where you can find a real life job, learn about campaign groups, go dancing and even test drive a car - and the negative, disturbing side.
In one virtual island he discovered what looked like a real life playground called Wonderland, hidden behind a shopping centre. But the child-like avatars here were not just playing on swings, they were offering sex for Linden dollars, the currency used in Second Life that can be converted into real dollars.
Farrell said: "There were virtual children of all ages, even toddlers. After talking to one child I was offered a range of sordid and sick sexual acts. My avatar had entered a virtual paedophile ring. Obviously, I declined the offers and reported my disturbing findings to CEOPS."
Five News Editor David Kermode said: “What Jason Farrell’s investigation discovered is shocking. However, it is at least encouraging that our findings have prompted the authorities who try to police the net to take action.”
Every avatar and every zone is controlled by a real person. The child avatars are more than likely controlled by male adults. Second Life has become the perfect place for paedophiles to meet and encourage one another’s fantasies; and, if they want to, swap real images of child abuse.
The Home Secretary Jacquie Smith said today she was planning to publish a consultation paper on whether to outlaw virtual imagery of child abuse used in virtual on-line worlds.
She told Five News: “We are concerned about the way in which using computer generated images people might be developing a set of behaviours that could then go on to used to harm children.”
NSPCC policy advisor Zoe Hilton said: "It is not okay to fantasise about this stuff. These kind of interactions need to be shut down."
Jason's will be broadcast on Five News today (Tuesday 30 October) at 1130am, 5.30pm and 7pm on Channel Five.
Atherstone based company www.thewalkinweb.com/
sees virtual communities as the way forward in business (personally I see the way forward as having a readable home page), they're currently promoting their virtual atherstone on second life.
This will fall completely on its arse and do nothing for the town. Second Life is the last thing 'they' should be looking at first, get teh basics done first... (as it goes i have something coming to demonstrate how to promote the town online to a new audience)
