For the first time, crime data reveals that pedophiles use VR headsets to view and store images of child abuse.
The NSPCC requested information under the UK's Freedom of Information Act from all 45 forces regarding the number of child abuse image offenses, and they provided it.
Eight crimes involving VR headsets had been reported by the police, it was discovered.
The non-profit organization is cautioning parents that children are now exposed to new risks online due to the growing use of virtual reality headsets.
The NSPCC's chief executive, Sir Peter Wanless, stated: "We hear from young people who feel helpless and let down as sexual abuse risks becoming commonplace. ".
With a VR headset, you can enter the "Metaverse," a virtual world filled with games, chat rooms, and experiences.
The Metaverse's creator, Meta, was founded by Mark Zuckerberg. Meta has spent billions developing VR technology because it sees it as the industry's future.
The UK government anticipates that by 2030, spending on virtual and augmented reality technology will exceed £60 billion.
The CEO of Limina Immersive and a leading authority on virtual reality is Catherine Allen.
"Politicians and technology companies need to take seriously this emerging, rapidly expanding threat," she said.
"We can observe this happening in VR. Online offenders will gather in places with little oversight or regulation. ".
The Online Safety Bill, which is currently making its way through the Lords, according to the government, includes provisions for virtual reality headsets and the Metaverse.
According to a spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, "companies will face huge fines and could face criminal sanctions against senior managers" if platforms fail to protect children.
However, in terms of the overall picture, the numbers related to VR are negligible.
They revealed that in the years 2021–2022, a record 30,925 offenses involving the possession and sharing of pornographic images of children were committed.
The NSPCC issued a warning that the problem's "unprecedented scale is being fueled by unregulated social media.".
The statistics, according to Sir Peter, are "incredibly alarming," but they only "reflect the tip of the iceberg of what children are experiencing online.".
9,888 offenses mentioned social media or gaming websites.
Infractions involving Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp totaled 4,293, 1,363, and 1,361 respectively.
Since their inception, virtual and augmented reality have been used legally in the world of adult sex work for profit.
Some have argued that it would only be a matter of time before the same technology was used to groom and sexually exploit children as well as to share illicit content.
The use of VR headsets to sexually exploit children was first discovered by the BBC in 2017.
In this case, a man from Egypt was promoting the purchase of images and videos of child abuse online.
He charged $160 (£132) for that content in virtual reality. He offered "technical support" and stated that the video was taken with a 360-degree camera.
The BBC revealed in 2022 that a Metaverse app permitted minors to enter strip clubs.
Through the Online Safety Bill, the NSPCC is requesting that the government appoint a statutory child safety advocate.
The Bill contains "tough, world-leading measures," according to a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport.
Snapchat released the following statement: "Snap has devoted teams working closely with police, experts, and industry partners around the world. ".
In the event that any sexually explicit material abusing children is found, it was further stated that "we immediately remove it, delete the account, and report the offender to the authorities.".
The horrific content has been removed from our apps, according to Meta, which also owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the Meta Quest headset. ".
A spokesperson further stated, "We are leaders in the industry in the creation and application of technology to block and delete this content.
