On Virtual Harassment: Meta's VR Expansion Faces Regulatory Scrutiny

X. META CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND INTRODUCE NEW PLATFORMS

836. Meta has indicated [Redacted] that it plans to expand its presence in the Virtual Reality (VR) arena.

837. Virtual Reality is a new way to interact with computers wherein a user’s body is virtually placed into a 3D digital world that they can control by moving their body as though in the real world.

838. Meta first ventured into virtual reality when, in 2014, it purchased VR headset manufacturer Oculus. Meta has since developed a flagship VR Social Media Platform called “Horizon Worlds.”

839. In May 2022, the organization SumOfUs (now called Eko), released a report documenting the harms it found on Horizon Worlds, including harassment and abuse.

840. On March 8, 2023, the Center for Countering Digital Hate published a report about bullying, sexual harassment of minors, and harmful content on Horizon Worlds.

841. As of April 2023, Meta made Horizon Worlds available to young users between the ages of 13 to 17.

842. The Filing States have attempted to investigate Meta’s actions in the VR space, specifically by issuing Civil Investigative Demands on June 7, 2023, requesting information about minors on Horizon Worlds, including users under age 13.

843. To date, Meta has not responded to the Filing States’ requests for information and documents on this topic.

844. Upon information and belief, Meta is developing and deploying new features on its nascent virtual reality Platforms such as Horizon Worlds, which users may link to their accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

845. Upon information and belief, Meta’s conduct in the VR space may create harm to minors such that it constitutes violations of states’ consumer protection laws and yield further violations under COPPA.