Excerpts from the article by Paule Gonzalès, published in Le Figaro on Thursday August 18, 2022
Virtual reality, real crimes: the metaverse, digital continent invested by the law
Assaults, thefts, transactions: this universe resembling the Wild West is of increasing interest to jurists and lawyers.
Philippe Ginestié, founding partner of the firm Ginestié Magellan Paley-Vincent and Auriane Wilhem, who organizes the first experiments in the metaverse for the firm, answered questions from Paule Gonzalès.
Philippe Ginestié distinguishes two virtual realities : " the submetaverse, directly from the boom in video games, such as Second Life ”, accessible via his computer in two dimensions and the fully immersive metaverse. Auriane Wilhem specifies “ that the immersive experience is total. There is no physical or psychological duplication. We are totally in this reality. And the movements being very fast, the proximity can impose itself in a brutal and oppressive way ».
On the risk of multiplication of user complaints, Philippe Ginestié wonders: " Why wouldn't I have the right to a peaceful life in the metaverse and by what right would I be forced to take off my helmet to avoid obscene gestures? Philippe Ginestié then points to another question “ that of the distorting mirror of criminal law in the metaverse. In this case, the people prosecuted will be, not for sexual assault or rape, but under the law on harassment or online hatred. Likewise, if I stab in virtual reality, I might be sentenced to two years for identity violation, for example, but not to thirty years in prison for murder. So we can clearly see that there is a right to invent. »
In the meantime, Meta has promised to ramp up default digital shields and good policing protocols, like real-time report buttons to make it easier to track down new anonymized metaverse offenders. " VSar law only begins when the alleged abuser has been identified by the police “recalls Philippe Ginestié.
Philippe Ginestié
Founder
Founder of the firm, he has extensive experience in the areas of corporate and complex operations where legal, tax and financial considerations must be integrated. He has developed particular expertise in the legal organization of relations between the control of power in groups.
Administrator of the Alpha Omega Foundation, he also supports non-profit organizations.
