NSPCC Learning has published a new study on child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation in immersive technologies. The research explores the risks presented by virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) and includes interviews with professionals, focus groups and a literature review. Finds that offenders are using immersive technology to groom, coerce, sexually abuse and exploit children. Further findings include: abuse can happen solely within a VR space; grooming within a VR space can lead to offline ‘real life’ offending; immersive technology is being used by perpetrators to simulate sex with 3D models of children; and technology companies are failing to prioritise child safeguarding on their platforms. The NSPCC calls for the government to ensure that child safety is factored into all policy making related to emerging technologies.
Read the study: Child safeguarding and immersive technologies
Read the news story: Over 75% of people believe children are at significant risk of sexual abuse when using VR technology
Source: NSPCC Learning
Date: 05 September 2023
