SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE METAVERSE WORLD: AN ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITY UNDER BRAZILIAN LEGISLATION

Abstract

Artificial intelligence has been essential for various positive changes in society, mainly focused on knowledge and access to information. However, various crimes are associated with the virtualization of society, as has been occurring through investments in new realities associated with the metaverse. From this, the general objective of this research was to elucidate sexual harassment in the metaverse, from the perspective of its legal culmination in Brazilian legislation. In addition, as specific objectives, the study focused on defining the concept of the metaverse and its legal implications, differentiating sexual harassment from sexual annoyance, and demonstrating the importance of studying new doctrines and jurisprudence on sexual crimes in the metaverse, with an emphasis on sexual annoyance. The research method applied was qualitative, through a bibliographic review on this topic, given its importance to modernity. The authors surveyed demonstrate that there are still limitations in Brazilian legislation for the typification of crimes associated with this reality. Therefore, it is concluded that the study of the metaverse, in its criminal sphere, needs to be a priority for Brazilian doctrine and jurisprudence in the coming years, something that is already happening in the United States, where this doctrine is more advanced, according to Costa, Magalhães, and Berzoini (2023).