Criminal Risks in the Metaverse and Possible Strategies for Their Minimization

The metaverse is an evolutionary form of digital society characterized by the development of social attributes and the integration of virtual and real worlds. It functions as a complex virtual social system based on a real social structure and covering various spheres of life such as politics, economics and culture. The social and transactional behavior of people in a virtual environment is gradually having the opposite effect on real life, forming new models of interaction and communication. Augmented reality technology allows you to display virtual objects based on the real world, which enhances the feeling of immersion and emphasizes the need for a harmonious combination of virtual and real spaces. As a new direction in the development of cyberspace, the metaverse has a decentralized logical architecture and ensures the integration of virtual and real worlds. However, this integration gives rise to new criminal risks, affecting the legal protection of civil rights, property and intellectual property rights, as well as digital financial systems and regulatory mechanisms. Crimes in the virtual space continue to transform, demonstrating new forms of behavior and self-expression. Based on a detailed analysis of the concept, characteristics, and social aspects of the metaverse, as well as patterns of wrongdoing in this space, strategies for minimizing criminal risks are proposed. In particular, effective counteraction to crimes in the metaverse requires the creation of a multi-subject supervisory system based on artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. This system should use data and platforms as key regulatory elements to ensure the safety and protection of users’ rights.