Interpol announced its metaverse developed to facilitate communication between various units, and a space for education and training.
During its 90th General Assembly in New Delhi, INTERPOL announced its very first “metaverse specifically designed for law enforcement worldwide”.
INTERPOL states its main reason for delving into the metaverse space is because of the increasing crime rates as public adoption rates continue to grow.
“As the number of Metaverse users grows and the technology further develops, the list of possible crimes will only expand to potentially include crimes against children, data theft, money laundering, financial fraud, counterfeiting, ransomware, phishing, and sexual assault and harassment.” INTERPOL’s report reads.
INTERPOL- Metaverse is already here
The INTERPOL Metaverse, which is already fully operational, gives users exposure to the virtual facsimile of the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters. The headquarters is located in Lyon, France. Metaverse users can access and interact with officers in the headquarters through avatars without being limited to geographical or physical boundaries.
The users can also get INTERPOL’s comprehensive training courses in forensic investigation and other policing capabilities through the use of their avatars. INTERPOL provides the metaverse through its INTERPOL Secure Cloud to ensure there is neutrality.
The INTERPOL Global Crime Trend report reveals that the metaverse is now a dwelling place for criminals. Social engineering scams, violent extremism and misinformation come as some of the challenges the space is facing according to the World Economic Forum.
The INTERPOL report notes that not all crime threats in the physical world can be considered crimes in the virtual world. This poses a significant challenge to law enforcement.
“By identifying these risks from the outset, we can work with stakeholders to shape the necessary governance frameworks and cut off future criminal markets before they are fully formed. Only by having these conversations now can we build an effective response,” notes Madan Oberoi, INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Technology and Innovation.
Education through metaverse
The INTERPOL Metaverse also provides an avenue to conduct education and training. INTERPOL notes that the metaverse space requires law enforcement, especially in areas of remote work networks. Such include collecting and preserving evidence for crime scenes and delivering training.
Through the space, students have the opportunities to collaborate and network and acquire a greater engagement through immersion and enabling hands-on activities.
The INTERPOL Capacity Building and Training Directorate already issued a training course through a metaverse class. The course focused on document verification and passenger screening using the INTERPOL capabilities. Through the demo, students were teleported to an airport to apply the newly learned skills.
“The Metaverse has the potential to transform every aspect of our daily lives with enormous implications for law enforcement. But in order for police to understand the Metaverse, we need to experience it,” Mr. Oberoi noted.
Response to the INTERPOL Metaverse
The tweet on INTERPOL’s newly launched metaverse sparked a lot of different responses. As some welcome the idea, others are quite skeptical. The most striking responses come from individuals who feel that INTERPOL’s aim is to catch Do Kwon. The co-founder and CEO of Singapore-based Terraform Labs, Kwon is still on the run after INTERPOL issued a Red Notice. INTERPOL compelled law enforcers globally to locate and arrest the South Korean cryptocurrency developer.
It is worth noting that so far some individuals are already arrested for their actions in the metaverse. In September, last month, a South Korean man was convicted to four years in prison for sexually harassing children in the metaverse. The man also lured the children into sending nude photos and videos.
