Sex offenders using virtual reality to abuse children as victims describe feeling ‘phantom touch’
Sex offenders are targeting children inside virtual reality environments, a new study has warned – with some victims even suffering the physical response to being touched without their consent.
The “phantom touch” sensation is one of several forms of exploitation detailed in research commissioned by the NSPCC charity, with a warning these immersive online platforms are presenting a “monumental hurdle” for law enforcement and efforts to protect vulnerable youngsters.
It said virtual reality, where users put on a headset that puts them inside a digital space, potentially online with others, was giving offenders new opportunities to commit their crimes.
Sumaiya Zahoor, the NSPCC’s policy officer for child safety online, told Sky News the increasing use of haptics in virtual reality devices, whereby vibrations and other forces give the user physical feedback to their actions, made experiences “much more immersive” but also “a lot more intrusive than you would anticipate”.
As well as the phantom touch, the Child Safeguarding & Immersive Technologies report also highlighted how abuse perpetrators used avatars to desensitise their victims and “normalise” their behaviour.
One victim cited in the report said they had been left with “mental scars” by their experience.
“It was so normal for [the offender] to have relationships with minors, in the bubble that we lived in,” they said.
“I came out of that situation with severe trust issues, and I am not sure when things will go back to normal.”
‘Deceptive’ visuals empower offenders
Ms Zahoor said the cartoonish visuals of many virtual reality experiences could be “deceptive”, with approachable avatars that make children think they’re talking to someone of their own age.
“That’s really where the concern is – parents and children might look at those graphics and be thinking this is completely safe and appropriate,” she added.
Offenders are also using virtual spaces to foster “communities” where they share abuse material with others.
The UK’s Online CSA Covert Intelligence Team, which sees specialist law enforcement personnel go undercover to expose such criminal activity, was among the contributors to the report.
“Virtual reality and the metaverse have the potential to be a monumental hurdle for law enforcement, criminal justice, and the safeguarding of vulnerable people,” it said.
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Richard Collard, head of child safety online policy at the NSPCC, said the findings emphasised the importance of upcoming legislation to tackle internet harms.
The Online Safety Bill has been long delayed but is being debated in the House of Lords this week as parliament returns from its summer break.
It has been heavily criticised by tech companies and privacy campaigners, with WhatsApp and Signal among the platforms threatening to leave the UK if they are forced to comply.
They have said the bill would undermine their commitment to user security, as it could allow for the scanning of encrypted messages to crack down on abuse content.
But Mr Collard said: “These shocking findings should be a wake-up call to us all about the harm young people are facing when engaging with immersive technology.
“Technology will continue to progress, and so must we to ensure that we can understand the existing and emerging risks that young people face in these virtual spaces.”
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What is in the online safety bill?
The report, carried out by research firm Limina Immersive, said the government must ensure the Online Safety Bill is continuously reviewed to remain effective as new harms emerge.
It also said police need more funding and guidance on how to deal with simulated offences in virtual settings.
Tech companies should also ensure virtual worlds have robust child safety features and reporting systems, it added.
In the meantime, the NSPCC urged parents to make themselves familiar with any safety features and controls their child’s headset might have, including blocking other users, restricting what games they can play, and setting physical boundaries around their character when playing online to stop others getting too close.
UK
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace steps down as Kirsty Wark among 13 who claim he made inappropriate sexual jokes
MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has stepped down over allegations he made a series of inappropriate sexual comments on a range of programmes over 17 years.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.
In an interview with the BBC, the Newsnight presenter, who was a celebrity contestant on MasterChef in 2011, claimed Wallace used “sexualised language”.
“There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if it was anyone engaged with this,” Wark said.
“It was completely one-way traffic. I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really didn’t expect to happen.”
Sky News has contacted Wallace’s representative for comment.
Kirsty Wark. File pic: PA
‘Fully cooperating’
Banijay UK said the complaints were made to the BBC this week by “individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with Gregg Wallace on one of our shows”.
The company said the 60-year-old, who has been a co-presenter and judge of the popular cooking show since 2005, was “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process”.
“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate,” the company said.
“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
A BBC spokesman said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”
Previous investigation
Last month, Wallace responded to reports that a previous BBC review had found he could continue working at the corporation following reports of an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities.
Wallace said those claims had been investigated “promptly” at the time and said he had not said “anything sexual” while appearing on the game show more than half a decade ago.
In an Instagram post following an article in The Sun newspaper, he wrote: “The story that’s hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.
“And the outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. I’ll need to repeat this again. I didn’t say anything sexual.”
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Alongside MasterChef, Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014. Pic: PA
Wallace has featured on various BBC shows over the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, as well as being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2014.
He was made an MBE for services to food and charity last year.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will be transmitted as planned, the PA news agency understands.
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