Law and Order SVU- Second Life Err Another Universe

Ever since I heard about Second Life I've been waiting for either CSI or Law and Order to run an episode focusing on the online phenomena. When SVU aired on Tuesday October 2nd, with an episode that touched on sex for money, via the internet and avatars, they weren't far off what is actually happening on Second Life.

From people who play there, screen shots and more, Second Life does indeed provide a system where people are charged for internet sex with avatars, and that Second Life money can be exchanged for real money. So, in all honesty, it is a situation that was begging to be used in a crime related drama.

As I watched the episode unfold, with a woman kidnapped in real life because of events within the game (Called Another Universe in the episode) I had to wonder if the owners of Second Life were cringing.

Now, I'll be honest. I've stepped into Second Life all but twice. My lap top can't handle the graphics and it didn't hold any real interest for me. I'm an old time rpg player, and if I'm going to do online rpg's it will be text based html chat ones, or message board based because, quite frankly, to me they're more interesting. But what little I did see in Second Life made it very clear that Another Universe was based, heavily, on that system. Right down to being able to custom build your own avatar, land and the virtual sex involved. Another article I wrote for AC also mentioned a woman, running in the Belgium elections this year, offered sex for votes, or rather oral sex for votes, and one of the options of getting that service had been via Second Life.

Before anyone jumps me for this, I'm well aware that Second Life has attempted to put in controls to prevent minors from entering the areas of the game/system where adult interaction takes place by using credit cards, passports and other means of checking age. But this doesn't stop the very situation that was portrayed in SVU. No, I don't mean the real life kidnapping. I mean an avatar made up to be a 14 year old girl, selling herself for sex in an online sex club.