Combating Child Exploitation in Second Life

Recent developments in Internet social networks include the use of Second Life (SL), a compelling and arguably addictive online virtual world, where millions of Internet users have been registered and contribute to it by developing and uploading graphical objects, buildings, images, etc. Its users can interact as virtual personifications called avatars, and they can communicate by using text messages, the users´ voice, and gestures. Although SL is intended for general entertainment in its adult (over 18) version, cases of explicit and hidden pedophilia have been reported inside SL´s virtual world, generated by some of its users, using SL communication capabilities to trade and show pornographic images, to exchange related text messages, and to simulate acts of pedophilia with avatars. In addition, the SL adult version (and presumably other similar 3D social networks) registration and access lacks an efficient age verification and consent system. This paper provides a literature review on child pornography in Second Life, as well as network and policy approaches for overcoming child access to the adult SL version. A review on ethical and legal issues of dealing with child pornography and pedophilia in Second Life are briefly addressed in this paper.