Two people enter the metaverse. They appear as avatars, wearing virtual reality headsets and haptic suits that provide virtual feedback to the body. One person virtually assaults the other. What happens next?

It sounds absolutely unreal, but experts believe that the murkier side of the metaverse, and the potential for crime, from assault to hacking and even avatar rape, has yet to be fully considered.

Policing the metaverse, an online world where people can live their lives as avatars, has opened up a new frontier for governments, tech companies, and law enforcement.

The topic was in the spotlight this week at the Abu Dhabi International Expo on Homeland Security and Resilience conference, where attendees heard tough questions about trying to police the…