Smear Tactics is a virtual 3D simulation set in the VR Chat application that establishes to replicate and analyze a legal case study related to alleged defamation incidents within virtual gaming environments.
Smear Tactics provides an immersive and interactive learning experience for students, allowing them to witness and engage with the unfolding of legal scenarios in a dynamic 3D space.
The simulation focuses on 2 characters (controlled by the instructor) and their interactions with each other.
The avatars behave in a way in the simulation which would be defamatory, under Singapore laws, if it had occurred in the real world.
Smear Tactics seeks to address the following learning objectives:
Students will be able to:
1) Describe the elements of proving defamation.
2) Describe the features (real and potential) of an avatar in a 3D Space.
3) Discuss the laws of defamation in Stocker v Stocker [2019] UKSC 17 that concern an ordinary, reasonable person’s reaction to a social media post.
4) Apply the rules in the Stocker case to the conduct or remarks made by an avatar in the 3D Space
Teaching Strategy
The game is played in class with the instructor taking on the role of the protagonist within the scene.
The set up for the scene is as follows:
1) The instructor plays the role of a popular content creator, inviting his fans to a virtual meetup.
2) Students take on the role of his fans and join the virtual meetup within the VR Chat environment
3) Throughout the meetup, a 2nd character (automated by the application) will appear and antagonize the instructor's avatar.
Students will have full view of the incident, and a class discussion will be initiated on the events that have unfolded.
