Sexual Harassment in the Metaverse: Legal Challenges and the Need for Intervention

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_39How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Criminal laws; Haptic Technology; Sexual Misconduct; Virtual

Abstract

The technological evolution has unquestionably created new frontiers, seamlessly weaving itself into the fabric of our daily lives. The same technology also offers unprecedented opportunities for criminals while posing significant difficulties for law enforcement. This dichotomy is glaringly apparent in the emerging landscape of the metaverse, especially in light of the burgeoning prevalence of sexual harassment. Reports describe incidents in which virtual groping, sexual assault, and verbal abuse are inflicted on avatars, frequently those that represent women. Despite the lack of physical contact, the psychological effect on the victims is profound, with many suffering from trauma similar to actual assaults. The distinction is further blurred by the use of haptic technology, which produces simulated bodily sensations that heighten the unpleasant experience. The primary objective of this research is to analyze the efficacy of existing criminal laws vis-à-vis sexual harassment in the metaverse, identify the specific legal challenges posed by this emerging digital environment, and explore the diverse approaches adopted by various countries in response to these modern forms of virtual harm. This shall be done by employing doctrinal and comparative legal research methods. A comprehensive review of literature reveals that most jurisdictions are ill-equipped to address the unique manifestations of virtual sexual harassment. The United States shows fragmented state-level responses, while EU law lacks harmonized definitions, and Indian law is mostly silent except for broad cybercrime provisions. Across these systems, courts face significant barriers in extending traditional sexual harassment law to avatar-based offenses, resulting in impunity for offenders and inadequate redress for victims. The lack of standardized evidentiary protocols and jurisdictional rules further inhibits effective legal action. The analysis concludes that the legal systems must adapt existing statutes, develop metaverse-specific definitions, and establish protocols for digital evidence. Without these measures, virtual environments risk becoming lawless spaces for sexual misconduct.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Kriti Kaushik
AU  - Amrita Singh
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
TI  - Sexual Harassment in the Metaverse: Legal Challenges and the Need for Intervention
BT  - Proceedings of the UUM 13th International Legal Conference 2025 (UUMILC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 568
EP  - 583
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_39
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_39
ID  - Kaushik2026
ER  -