1. Librarians Going Global in Second Life The Ethical, Moral and Legal Issues for Working in SL Dave Harmeyer, MLS, EdD Ted Taylor, MLS CARL’s 12 th Biennial Conference Irvine, California April 5, 2008

2. Going Global in SL Internet-based multi-user online virtual world 2003 Linden Research, Inc. = Linden Lab 13 million accounts, 60,000 daily more realistic Second Life Viewer (download) Avatar, walk, fly, chat, voice Currency Linden Dollar (L$) exchangeable for real $ Teen grid Sleaze (nude beaches, “free sex-orgy room”) Late 2006 early 2007 educators/librarians Apply this social experiment to education 150 colleges from US and abroad

3. Going Global in SL Ohio University Campus in SL San Jose State University’s School of Library & Information Science

4. Things Ethical Griefing = avatar harassment and/or assault Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University Utilitarian approach Common good approach Virtue approach SLED, listserv, Second Life Educators –Clothes changing –Copying chat records –Avatar bot invading private space

5. Things Moral Linden Lab, Terms of Service Agreement 1.2 “...limited control,... morality, legality...” Moral rights approach Human dignity, treated as ends not means to ends Non-human, avatars? “Virtual assault cannot cause physical harm”

6. Things Moral Moral obligation to report? Bugeja SL “bestows anonymity and disavows liability” Linden Lab “Big Six” behaviors: intolerance, harassment, assault, disclosure, indecency and disturbing the peace.

7. Things Legal Whistle blower Chronicle of Higher Ed 9/14/07 Accountable for students with harassers? –Virginia Tech griefer –Female avatars raped –Two most common violations: assault & harassment –Blevins, case can be brought if required or recommended and harassing occurs –What if: student witnesses an unwanted virtual act?

8. Things Legal Linden Lab’s Terms of Service Agreement –Section 1.2 service provider... –Section 4.1 Community Standards

9. Solutions Harassment forbidden Most abide Private islands 50% discount Abuse-reporting tool SLED, SL Education IDV, Identity Verification Retain chat logs Set up own avatars

10. Going Global in SL Questions & Answers