Interpol Opens Police Metaverse To Train Law Enforcement Worldwide
While we’ve been caught up in debating the graphics of Mark Zuckerberg’s Horizon Worlds, it turns out another kind of metaverse has already hit the web, and, no, it’s not helmed technology rivals Google or Apple but Interpol.
Recently, at its 90th General Assembly, the global police agency unveiled its very own version of the metaverse designed to train law enforcement worldwide.
Within the virtual landscape, users will be able to take a tour of the Interpol General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, without having to take a trip there, and engage in “immersive training courses” on topics including forensic investigation and other policing matters.
In addition, users can use their avatars to interact with other officers from different departments by donning virtual-reality headsets. With an organization like Interpol, cybersecurity is paramount, and the metaverse is being hosted on its Secure Cloud for neutrality and safety.
It’s no surprise global authorities want to get a headstart on virtual reality, with research firm Gartner estimating one in four people will spend at least an hour of their time every day within the metaverse by 2026.
Furthermore, in recent years, online crime has increased, making it pertinent for law enforcement to protect communities within the digital sphere. As the agency noted, as the metaverse continues to grow, so will the crime in it.
“For many, the metaverse seems to herald an abstract future, but the issues it raises are those that have always motivated Interpol—supporting our member countries to fight crime and making the world, virtual or not, safer for those who inhabit it,” says Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
