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DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v13.i3.17
Vishal Nehra
Research Scholar
Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University
Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand, India
Rakesh Kumar
Associate Professor
Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University
Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand, India
Abstract— The rapid advent of the metaverse has transformed the nature of communication through the creation of immersive virtual worlds in which participants use avatars to communicate using virtual reality and extended reality technologies. While such platforms offer users numerous opportunities for socializing, entertainment, learning, and cooperation, the advent of the metaverse has opened up a number of new avenues for committing virtual harassment and domestic violence facilitated by advanced technologies. For example, intimate partners may commit domestic violence by engaging in cyberstalking, avatar-based sexual harassment, coercive control, verbal harassment, surveillance, emotional manipulation, and public humiliation. The borderless and immersive nature of the metaverse creates significant ethical and legal challenges related to privacy, consent, jurisdiction, collecting evidence, regulating platforms, and protecting the victims. Hence, this paper explores the problem of domestic violence in the metaverse through analysis of the latest academic publications in the field, cyber law theory and framework, and intimate partner violence conducted through technology.
Keywords— Metaverse, domestic violence, virtual harassment, cyber law, intimate partner abuse, digital safety
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