Metacrime and Online Deviance: Law Enforcement Complexities in the Metaverse Era

Henky Fernando; Yuniar Galuh Larasati

doi:10.61994/jsls.v4i1.1679

Authors

Henky Fernando Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Yuniar Galuh Larasati Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61994/jsls.v4i1.1679

Keywords:

metacrime, online deviance, law enforcement, metaverse era

Abstract

Law enforcement in the metaverse era has placed authorities and policymakers in increasingly complex challenges of prevention and enforcement. While existing studies offer valuable insights, they remain limited in addressing the emerging dynamics of crime within conventional digital environments. In addition to addressing the limitations of existing studies, this research aims to explain the characteristics of online crime and deviant behavior in the Metaverse and their implications for law enforcement practices. This study adopts a qualitative descriptive approach grounded in multimodal ethnography to elucidate the patterns, operational modalities, and forms of impact that emerge within immersive environments. The key findings indicate that crime in the Metaverse not only transcends the characteristics of conventional violations but also generates more complex forms of symbolic, psychological, and virtual economic harm. Anonymity, cross-jurisdictional interactions, and avatar-mediated engagement further complicate the attribution of legal responsibility. In other words, the transformation of digital spaces necessitates more responsive regulatory adaptation to ensure effective legal protection. The significance of this study lies in its contribution as a conceptual foundation for the development of policies and law enforcement strategies in the metaverse era.

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