Emerging Crimes in the Metaverse: Between Criminal Law Issues and Future Challenges

Abstract

The contemporary world is undergoing unprecedented transformations driven by rapid scientific progress and the expansion of advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. One of the most significant outcomes of this evolution is the emergence of the “Metaverse,” a virtual environment that transcends the boundaries of the traditional physical world. However, this promising space has also been exploited by offenders to commit crimes that extend beyond material reality. Alarmingly, such crimes surpass conventional territorial boundaries and introduce unprecedented forms of criminal conduct, including personal data breaches, identity theft, virtual fraud through crypto currencies, digital violence, and infringements of intellectual property rights. Despite the gravity of these offenses and their unique characteristics, most national legal systems have yet to adapt their criminal frameworks to effectively address the risks arising from this new domain.

This article therefore seeks to shed light on the distinctive nature of Metaverse-related crimes, while examining the major legal challenges they raise—chief among them the inadequacy of existing criminal legislation. It further aims to provide legislators with foresight into future legal dilemmas likely to emerge in this context. Ultimately, the study underscores the urgent need to modernize criminal policy and to consider innovative legislative solutions that strike a balance between safeguarding individual rights and freedoms on the one hand, and preserving public order on the other.