Calling In The Virtual G-Men

Interesting blurb about how law enforcement is going to need to advance to handle "virtual crimes".

APRIL 16, 2007
Up Front
Edited by Michael Arndt

WEB WATCH
Calling In The Virtual G-Men

"The seedier side of Second Life—the online world where users spend real money to shop as well as gamble and misbehave—is coming under federal scrutiny. Linden Lab, the company behind the virtual world, recently invited the FBI to visit its online casinos and clear up what's allowed under last year's Internet gambling bill. On Second Life, residents bet with Linden dollars, which are not real currency, Linden Lab argues. But virtual profits can be converted to hard cash, through PayPal. Is it offshore gambling? Depends on the scale. "The FBI needs to distinguish the professional gamblers from casual gamblers in Second Life," says Edward Castronova, a telecom prof at Indiana University and a virtual-economy expert."

By Aili McConnon

http://www.businessweek.com/@@6pT2kWQQ0hw0sRUA/premium/content/07_16/c4030011.htm