Abstract

The article analyzes the issue of crimes committed in the metaverse. The metaverse, as an immersive 3D virtual universe, is becoming increasingly popular. The paper analyzes how crimes “committed” in the metaverse differ from traditional crimes and identifies their legal risks. The article analyzes the concepts of the “Magic Circle” and the “Law of Horse” as approaches to the legal regulation of the metaverse. Three categories of harm resulting from immersive virtual experiences are presented: individual harm from technology abuse, physical harm intentionally caused by others, and psychological effects of attacks on avatars. It is argued that current legal provisions are insufficient to regulate crimes in the metaverse. The article contains de lege ferenda proposals, including the introduction of specific regulations for the metaverse and the establishment of international standards for cooperation.