Virtual Murder Leads to Arrest

[Pachipro]

TOKYO (AP) - A 43-year-old player in a virtual game world became so angry about her sudden divorce from her online husband that she logged on with his password and killed his digital persona, police said Thursday........

I came across this story yesterday in the Washington Times, "Woman Jailed For Killing Virtual Husband" (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/23/woman-jailed-after-killing-virtual-husband/) but have been unable to find it in any Japanese English language newspaper.

Is this true? If so it is totally unbelievable and hilarious. Only in Japan!I hope they took her to a virtual jail! I think these two people need to find real lives. I hope the outcome of this is revealed when/if she comes to trial and if they will execute her own virtual character if she is found guilty.

I wonder if she would've done this to a real-life husband if he divorced her? Scary.

I really cannot understand the logic of arresting this woman and then transferring her from Miyazaki all the way to Sapporo.

Does anyone else find this odd? I hope this doesn't set a precedent where anyone can be arrested in real life for crimes committed in a virtual world.

[Mike Cash]

I really cannot understand the logic of arresting this woman and then transferring her from Miyazaki all the way to Sapporo.

There is the small matter of jurisdictions. The complainant resides in Sapporo.


Does anyone else find this odd? I hope this doesn't set a precedent where anyone can be arrested in real life for crimes committed in a virtual world.

She wasn't arrested for crimes committed in a virtual world. She was arrested for real crimes.

[tada]

I think it's cool how passionate that people take their hobbies in Japan (that's one of the things I find really cool about Japan and its people), but at the same time think that virtual worlds shouldn't intertwine with the real world.

I don't get how it's "hacking" if her "husband" willingly gave her the password, though.

[nanook]

I see it pretty often, how carelessly the Japanese (at least the ones, I know) deal with their passwords. Usually, all you have to do is ask. By giving his password to anyone, that guy committed virtual suicide :-)

[Mike Cash]

I think it's cool how passionate that people take their hobbies in Japan (that's one of the things I find really cool about Japan and its people), but at the same time think that virtual worlds shouldn't intertwine with the real world.

I don't get how it's "hacking" if her "husband" willingly gave her the password, though.

Where did it say "hacking"?

As for the logic of it being illegal, think about it this way: If I tell you where my checkbook is, does that mean you have carte blanche to write checks on my account?

[tada]

Where did it say "hacking"?
As for the logic of it being illegal, think about it this way: If I tell you where my checkbook is, does that mean you have carte blanche to write checks on my account?

(′hak·iŋ)

(computer science) Use of a computer system without a specific, constructive purpose, or without proper authorization.

The woman, who has been jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data,

[Mike Cash]

Well if we go by that definition up to the final comma then "hacking" is rampant. I must claim to be guilty myself.

[Kinsao]

Well I think the woman should get some kind of punishment for misusing access to the guy's account... but honestly, it's nothing like murder and shouldn't be treated as such! :souka:

In reality, this is a computer-related crime, to do with use/abuse of the access to the game, and not to do with a real killing.

[alantin]

Virtual murder..?
I just took this as a word play in the media. Can't imagine anyone treating this as a murder.
(sorry for not reading the article!)

There is no doubt that it is anything else than illegal access to another persons account and destroying information that is his property.
A computer-related crime as stated above but not any less a real crime.

[FrustratedDave]

(′hak·iŋ)

(computer science) Use of a computer system without a specific, constructive purpose, or without proper authorization.
I think you mean "cracking" not "hacking"....

[Mike Cash]

Well I think the woman should get some kind of punishment for misusing access to the guy's account... but honestly, it's nothing like murder and shouldn't be treated as such!

It isn't being treated as such by anyone except those with insufficient critical reading skills.

[DoctorP]

I discussed this story on another site...it's a game! The guy should get over it. Throw her into e-jail and call it even!

[alantin]

I liked the idea of executing her virtual character! ^^

[sonunpaclesal]

How do they give him back that 22 years? In effect, the state of Oklahoma took the better part of a mans life over a crime he cannot be proven to have committed.

Perhaps that "police chemist" needs to go away for 22 years.

[Kirie_Maiden]

I haven't had chance to read the artice, because it has been removed from the provided link.

Is this article anywhere else on the internet so I can provide an opinion on it?

Or was it removed for being just too plain stupid?

[Pachipro]

Here is a link (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/woman-arrested-over-virtual-murder/story-e6frf7lf-1111117841304) that is still available.

[Kirie_Maiden]

That article is badly written. The headline makes out as if she has been arrested on charges of virtual murder but, actually, she is being charged for illegally accessing an account. Stupid article.

You do wonder how the woman got his username and password though. Given willingly? If so, that man is an idiot and deserved to be virtually murdered. =P

The article does show how sad people on the internet can be. She was angry at being divorced on the online world so she killed her virtual husband? Doesn't she know it's not real? God... I once promised someone on World of Warcraft I'd 'marry' him when we both hit level 70 for a laugh. I'm level 80 now and I haven't seen him yet. Makes me wonder if he's gonna track me down and 'murder' me for breaking the promise...