Virtual Rape

http://virtuallyblind.com/2007/04/24/open-roundtable-allegations-of-virtual-rape-bring-belgian-police-to-second-life
This article sparks the debate if it is possible to rape a person virtually, that is though text messages, video games, instant messaging, or other digital means. Obviously forcing anyone to do something, or read something that makes them physically or psychologically harmed should be a crime. But is it possible to force someone that is miles away? Are both people not freely at their computer? How does one attempt to have sexual intercourse over the internet? A physical rape can occur when a man jumps a woman and forces her to the ground then rapes her. But how do you force a person to stay in their seat and read your virtual rape?


"If it is a criminal offense to sexually abuse a child on the internet, how can we say it is not possible to rape an adult online?"

Although I agree with the first part, I do not believe that it is possible to rape someone through virtual means. It is possibly to psychologically harm someone online, which might constitute another, different crim, however the stigma of the physical violation that rape constitutes is not there. Rape is: "In most jurisdictions the crime of rape is defined to occur when sexual intercourse takes place (or is attempted) without valid consent of one of the parties involved." In researching my project on MMORPGs, I realize that people spend a lot of time on their online personas. As much as 100 hours a week, and it that character has an emotional attachment. Another person violating that extension of you has to be hurtful, but as my mother has said to me when i got aggrivated at video games as a kid, "its just a game".

This is more of a debate of, "is destroying someones virtual property (A character in a MMORPG in this case) a crime?" Should we as a country place the same punishment and protection of rights for a digital citizen as we hold for an ordinary citizen? Could murder be a protected right in a MMORPG? Is an extention of someone's personality constitute themselves? or is a digial representation in a completely different ballpark?

The use of MMORPGs is on the rise, and as with any new area with people interacting on a large scale, there is room for legal discussion. I believe that we cannot protect people's digital characters as we protect the rights of citizens. It is on the game developers to deal with legislation of their created digital realm.