Crime on the Virtual Frontier Second Life and Virtual Realities

Crime on the Virtual Frontier “Second Life” and Virtual Realities Presented by Inspector Kevin McQuiggin Vancouver Police Department POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Virtual Realities ● Provide people with an opportunity to interact in a world that is limited only by their imagination Participation in these virtual worlds is growing, and millions of people regularly participate in this activity ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 However... ● Such a novel environment presents profitable opportunities for criminals It also creates new investigative challenges for law enforcement and the courts ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 This Presentation ● Will provide a demonstration of one of the most popular virtual realities called "Second Life" Will discuss the unique challenges that this virtual world will present: – – ● For the future of society in general, and For law enforcement and the courts in particular POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Virtual Worlds ● An analog of the real world created in an alternate environment In this case, a “world” created within a computer ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Virtual Worlds ● Graphical representation of the real world using common points of reference: – – – – – Time and space Physics People (called “avatars”), places, objects Communication Basic societal standards POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 This Concept is Not New ● Rather, it is being enhanced by advanced computer and networking technologies Historical virtual worlds: – – – – ● Books Games (notably chess) Role playing Textual communications POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Multi-player Gaming ● Online games: – – – – “Doom” “The Sims” “EverQuest” “World of Warcraft” ● These are fundamentally different from newer collaborative environments like “Second Life” POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 “Second Life” is Different ● Open-ended virtual reality: – “A 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents” An “ideal” world to allow people to interact in a near-perfect environment devoid of social problems – POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 How is Second Life Used? ● To replicate many aspects of daily life: – – – Urban, suburban, rural settings Popular venues, tourist attractions Schools, museums, memorials, clubs, meetings Businesses, notably banks Social organizations, governments, political parties – – POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Getting Started ● Create your avatar: – Arbitrary and changeable: ● Appearance, race, age, clothing, even sex ● Then interact, hang out, explore, host a meeting, take a class, even get a job! POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Quiggy Lundquist POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Some Screenshots POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 A Short Demonstration POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Technical Details ● ~5000 interlinked virtual servers Global connectivity via the Internet User interface: – ● ● Open source client program for Windows/Mac/Unix operating systems Impressive 3D graphics and interactive capabilities – POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Business Model ● Commercial venture based in SF Bay Area http://www.secondlife.com User fees: – – ● ● Free; or Small monthly fee to allow full participation in the community ● Fees for “land” purchase and rental POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Business Model ● In-world currency (“Lindens”): – – Used for transactions between avatars May be exchanged for US dollars ● Company claims a percentage of most financial transactions POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Recent Statistics ● ~10 million users ~40,000 online at any given time 974,000 logins in August Average of 23.6 hours/month per user ~$1.5M US dollars flows through Second Life (SL) each day ● ● ● ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 SL Growth POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Lindens ● ~265 Lindens : 1 USD Facility called “The Linden Exchange” is used to buy and sell L$ Exchange rate varies day to day Currency speculators! ● ● ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Media Coverage of Second Life ● Mainstream media now follow significant “in world” events “In world” news bureaus established Reporters (avatars) assigned to SL: – ● ● ABC, CBC, CNN, Reuters POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 My Opinion ● Development of realistic virtual worlds like SL is a significant event in the way people work, learn, collaborate, and spend their leisure time I think that we are in the “early adopter” phase This is going to be big! ● ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 The Law and Virtual Worlds ● This online world presents significant challenges to the criminal justice system Same crime, new (newer!) medium ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Complexities ● Legal: – – Criminal/civil law in SL? Whose law? SL complexifies all the usual Internet issues regarding “whose jurisdiction?” Victim, witness and suspect issues POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 ● Jurisdiction: – ● Identity: – Additional Complexities ● Sheer number of participants: – More opportunity for victimization ● The immersive nature of the experience Sense of users that SL is truly a “world”: – ● Transference of mind between SL and reality ● Law and policing inexperienced and unequipped POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Problems ● Unregulated transactions: – ● Theft of goods, services Use of avatars for RL criminal conspiracies Copyright infringement Sexual offences relative to “age-play” Racism, hate crime, harassment In-world investment scams Fraud, money laundering ● ● Unregulated banks and gambling Virtual “identity theft” Market manipulation (Linden Exchange) Mischief in relation to virtual properties, especially land ● ● ● ● ● ● ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Notable Recent Changes ● Casinos and betting establishments banned from SL VAT collection for EU residents ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Administrative Issues ● Lack of: – – – Understanding Training Appreciation ● Not only for the police, but for the legal profession and especially the judiciary POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Social Activism in SL ● Resistance to: – – Commercialization Influx of users not “ideologically committed” to environment ● “Griefers” POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Current State of Affairs ● Low awareness of this new medium and its challenges: – Police, prosecutors, judiciary will likely be unprepared for the first cases of this type ● Skepticism among most leaders and senior staff This must be rectified for us to be able to meet our public service obligations POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 ● Leadership in Policing ● Few police agencies are looking at the implications of this new technology What the Vancouver Police have done: – – – ● Internal discussion and research Advocacy and education Liaison: ● Canada's Federal/Provincial/Territorial Cybercrime Working Group briefed on issues POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Next Steps For Us ● Help raise awareness Improve our own familiarity with SL Educate others Adopt the technology! – ● ● ● Recruiting seminar June 1st, 2007: ● First in the world! – Advocacy for criminal justice collaboration and training facility in SL POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Our Avatars Real Life POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Our Media Reel POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 SL Research Partners ● Masters of Digital Media (MDM) Program: – – SFU, UBC, BCIT, Emily Carr Dr. Gerri Sinclair, graduate students Joanna Robinson and Sonu Sharma http://gnwc.ca http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/VPD-SL.mp4 – ● Recruiting session video: – POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Conclusions ● Popularity of virtual realities is exploding: – ~30 percent growth per month ● This is not a “game” in the classic sense SL and other virtual worlds provide an excellent venue for education and collaboration Perhaps we can use SL in this manner! ● ● POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Conclusions ● However, the criminal opportunities are also significant: – – – Many potential forms of victimization All will be complex to follow-up It's only a matter of time before we receive complaints from the public ● International cooperation will enhance response capabilities POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Questions? POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Contact Information ● Inspector Kevin McQuiggin: – – kevin@vpd.ca (604) 717-2564 POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007 Thank You! POLCYB – Hong Kong – November 2007