FC: Virtual game disputes leak into meatspace

[Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/fun.games/07/05/misbehaving.online.ap/index.html

[...]

    Some players have reported online spats leaking out of the game
    players have hacked into others' accounts, posed as acquaintances and
    spread rumors about real people through instant messaging. Some have
    even reported identity theft.

    That puts far more pressure on game makers to begin cracking down in
    earnest on gamers, experts say. It could lead to more real-world,
    legal liability for both players and the companies that make the
    games.

    "We're going to be forced to create a whole new area of social
    convention -- and probably law -- that reflects that kind of
    behavior," said psychologist David Greenfield, founder of the Center
    for Internet Studies and author of the book "Virtual Addiction."

    "You can't produce something that's this potent or powerful
    psychologically and not have some accountability for it," he said.

    Piers Mathieson and his wife, Jennifer, are two more hardcore "Sims"
    players. They log several hours most days.

    After the Las Vegas couple distributed photos of themselves to
    friends, one griefer hacked into Piers' America Online account and
    stole his in-game character's possessions. Someone else posed as Piers
    and told other players that Jennifer had died of cancer.

[...]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list
You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html
This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/
Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/
Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------