The Dark Side of Second Life

Concerns ran high among the hundred or so gathered for a community meeting in Second Life, the online virtual world. The group had crowded into town hall to hear Second Life creator Philip Rosedale, known on the inside as "El Presidente," discuss the latest crisis to befall the digital community where members interact, buy and sell goods, and build property worth real money. Potentially many more Second Life residents were listening in though an Internet audio stream.

The fuss? Many wanted to know what Second Life's creators planned to do about a new program, nicknamed CopyBot, that enables users to quickly copy characters, objects, and buildings, potentially eroding the value of people's virtual property. Others wanted to know about viruses with the alleged potential to steal members' identifying information. Still others were worried about the growing menace of mafias and gangs that are forcing members out of public areas. "These groups are very threatening and frustrating to deal with," wrote Eric Erskine in a Nov. 16 post on a Second Life community discussion group. "They took over the SoulMates dance club and ran every AV (avatar) off except mine…permanently ban mobs, gangstas, and mafias!"