Interpol Unveils The First Global Metaverse Police Force
Interpol’s metaverse is a virtual twin of its Lyon headquarters and is fully operational.
In a surprise session at the 90th edition of the Interpol General Assembly in New Delhi, India, the global law enforcement organization launched its Metaverse offering. The Interpol Metaverse is explicitly designed for international law enforcement. It will redefine the future of anti-crime work and police training and eliminate geographical limitations once fully adopted.
The Metaverse’s place as one of the foremost heralds of the future is unquestionable. This explains why several brands, including a global police outfit, embrace the concept of an ideal virtual world. The session featured General Assembly delegates and gave them a taste of what the future holds for the global police in the Metaverse.
The Interpol Metaverse is already fully operational. Pre-registered users and Interpol staff can enjoy a tour of the Interpol General Secretariat HQ in Lyon, the building from which the Metaverse draws inspiration. In the metaverse, users can communicate with other officers through their avatars and participate in training courses covering sectors like forensic investigation. Also, a user’s location does not affect their ability to enter the Interpol Metaverse.
Interpol powers its metaverse via the Interpol Secure Cloud, maintaining a censorship-resistant and personal approach. During the unveiling, participants interacted with the metaverse using VR headsets, and each person had a unique avatar representing them in the digital world.
According to the Interpol Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, Interpol’s drive into the virtual world is born out of the desire to make the world a better place, no matter what form that world exists in. He noted that the Metaverse was the arrowhead that would pave the way for a yet unclear future. The resulting issues from the existence of a virtual world will require Interpol’s active participation. Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
To further underline its commitment to securing the Metaverse, Interpol has inaugurated a group of experts dedicated to the metaverse. This committee is charged with representing law enforcement concerns on the global stage and ensuring the Metaverse is inherently safe and secure.
Already, the metaverse space is littered with criminal activity. The idea of virtual crime remains in largely uncharted waters. Thus, there will be significant challenges for law enforcement agencies that seek to fight crime in the metaverse. According to Madan Oberoi, Interpol’s Executive Director of Technology and Innovation, the body aims to have first-hand knowledge of the Metaverse and identify the risks of living, working, or carrying out any other activity in the metaverse.
Broadly, the Metaverse benefits law enforcement, allowing users to receive or deliver training, collect evidence from crime scenes and preserve every item. Dr. Oberoi made it clear that the organization’s approach depends on a live assessment of the Metaverse, and the best way to understand the technology is to be a part of it.
Demonstrating its willingness to champion law enforcement in the Metaverse, Interpol officers received training lessons on passenger screening and travel paperwork verification from experts during the General Assembly summit. Leveraging a classroom in the metaverse, the officers/students completed the training. They also had a live experience, testing their newly-acquired knowledge in a virtual simulation of a border point.
