Pin Lean is a panelist in the section titled Content and Conduct Moderation in the Metaverse. Her presentation is titled ‘Safeguarding Virtual Spaces for Children: Addressing Content Policing and Moderation in the Metaverse to Combat Grooming and Sexual Assault’. As the Metaverse emerges as a ubiquitous virtual environment, offering unprecedented opportunities for social interaction, creativity, and commerce, it also presents novel challenges in ensuring the safety and well-being of its users, especially children. Alarming trends have indicated the concerning phenomena that minors are being groomed in these virtual spaces, where sexual predators exploit virtual spaces to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals, often under the guise of friendship or mentorship.

Despite growing awareness of these issues, the policing of content and moderation within the Metaverse remains woefully inadequate. Existing mechanisms often fall short in effectively detecting and addressing harmful behaviors, leaving users vulnerable to exploitation and trauma. Pin Lean argues that addressing this deficiency requires a multi-faceted approach that combines technological innovation, robust regulatory frameworks, and community-driven initiatives.