Japan Reports 89 Cases of Pedophilia Linked to Online Games Like Fortnite in 2023
[summaraize]
There has been an increase in cases of pedophilia crimes in Japan involving online games, where these games were used to lure victims. This information was shared by the Japanese news agency FNN News on February 20, which had access to data from the National Police Agency.
According to the report, 89 minors under the age of 17 were involved in crimes committed through online games in 2023, with some cases including kidnapping and sexual assault.
Online Games Used in 89 Cases Related to Pedophilia in Japan
Out of the 89 cases, 37 involved individuals who contacted children through Knives Out, a battle royale game by NetEase Games. The report also mentioned games like Fortnite by Epic Games and Identity V, a multiplayer horror survival game by NetEase Games, with 13 cases each linked to these games.
The issue of crimes starting through online games is not new in Japan. In 2023, two cases were reported where adults contacted minors through Fortnite and Splatoon, a popular game for the Nintendo Switch. One case led to sexual exploitation, while the other involved stalking. Many adults are taking advantage of online games where minors are more likely to be found, targeting them to fulfill their sexual fantasies, often because these games are easy to access and lack proper controls from game developers.
The police shared this data due to the increasing number of similar cases year after year, which is becoming a growing concern in Japan. It seems that these kinds of reports were never made public before. The goal now is to raise greater awareness of the issue among minors and parents.
In related news, Turkey has banned Roblox over issues related to child safety. The Turkish government took this step after reports of inappropriate content on the platform which is primarily used by children and young adults.
Thanks, Automaton-Media!
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