Category: Linden Lab

SL21B Town Hall Summary: Product Operations (audio + video)

Posted on by Inara Pey
SL21B Product Operations Town Hall (l to r): Missy Mole (host); Patch Linden; Keira Linden, Derrick Linden and Izzy Linden
On Wednesday, June 26th, 2024, Linden Lab held special Town Hall Meeting of the Product and Engineering team, featuring the following personnel:

  • Patch Linden – Senior VP of Product Operations & Marketing.
  • Keira Linden – Support Operations Manager.
  • Derrick Linden – Product Operations Manager.
  • Izzy Linden – Creative Producer.

This is a summary of the topics discussed at the session. Audio extracts are included were appropriate, and a video of the session is embedded at the end of this article – my thanks to Pantera for providing it.

 Table of Contents

For ease of reference, timestamps are provided to the relative points within the video where specific topics are discussed, allowing readers who prefer to listen to the comments directly to be able to do so. Note this is not intended to be a full transcript, but rather covers those items discussed which are liable to be of the most interest.

A Little Background

[Video: 2:02-8:27]

A brief introduction to each of the people participating:

  • Patch Linden: joined the company in 2007 as a support agent. He later became Support Operations  Manager time and then he established the Land Operations Team (then within the Product Team), which became the nucleus of Product Operations. As a senior VP alongside Grumpity, he is responsible for the development and operation of Second Life.
  • Keira Linden: joined the Lab in 2008 working in the Concierge Team. Currently manages all the various support teams for Second Life and also the Governance Team.
  • Derrick Linden: as the Product Operations Manager: joined LL in 2011 and wears many hats – including overseeing the Land Operations Team, the Skill Gaming Team and co-running the Linden Department of Public Works (the Moles) alongside of Patch Linden.
  • Izzy Linden: joined LL in 2007. As the Creative Director works on a range of projects, including with the Moles.

Linden Homes, Land and Mainland

Linden Homes – Patch Linden

[Video: 9:40-17:45]

  • Currently planning for Linden Homes includes:
    • An update to the Premium Log Cabin theme floorplans.
    • A new mixed parcel-size (512 sq m and 1024 sq m) Premium theme with multiple floor plans.
    • A new Premium Plus theme with multiple floor plans.
    • This work is all in the planning / scoping phase; there is also some polling for possible themes to go with it, and maybe an idea from this might be implemented.
    • These ideas are likely to be in development for the next 6-12 months.
  • Transitioning off the Old Linden Homes [the original 512 sq m mini-continents] remains under consideration / evaluation.
    • The longer time goes by, the more likely it is to happen, but there is no firm timeline or date as to when this might start.
    • However, were it to seem possible that the old homes could be retired as the above new selections of homes are rolled-out, then this “might be a likely scenario”.
  • On Premium Plus being allowed two Premium Homes on a single account:
    • Has been thought about. However, doing so would impact available inventory of homes: there are only so many Linden Homes available as any given time, and people taking two diminishes the availability for others.
    • The current mechanism for managing Linden Homes and ownership isn’t geared for single accounts owning multiple homes.
    • It’s acknowledged that the above mechanism needs to by updated for other reasons, so it is possible when this work is carried out, that the idea of multi-Linen Home ownership (and “mix-and-match” ownership of different parcel sizes of Linden Homes) might being looked at. However, updating the system is a significant technical project, and not something currently in the works.
  • On mixing different plot sizes / themes [e.g. a 2048 tree house amidst 1024 Victorian homes]:
    • It’s always been implied that house selection is based on subscription level, theme and floorplan, with the location then based on that rather than being based on location, parcel size, etc.
    • The above approach keeps the system clean and easy to manage, given regions can be defined in terms of intended use  allowing the land to be planned accordingly. Trying to mix all parcel sizes and themes could make things confusing and hard to implement, so LL is wary of introducing too many options into a single selection process.
  • [Video: 58:15-59:12] On providing 512 sq m Linden Homes on Premium Plus 2048 parcels:
    • Has been considered, but it is unlikely to be considered for the foreseeable future.
    • Might be something that gets revisited after the old linden Homes have been retired.

10K Land Capacity Region Product – Patch Linden

[Video:  18:01-20:40]

  • It has often been requested than LL should offer an additional region land product with a 10K Land Capacity, to sit between Homesteads and Full private regions.
  • The idea has been discussed numerous times within the Land Team – but this does not mean anything is necessarily going to be offered, nor should it be inferred that it will be.
  • Any new region product can have the potential to be highly disruptive to Second Life and the platform’s economy, and needs careful consideration.
    • [Side note: evidence of this can be seen in the 2008/2009 OpenSpace region update & transition to the Homestead product. This caused major disruption in terms of pricing and impact on users, and led to a false sense of SL growth. In a period of some 6-8 months, the number of regions on the grid almost doubled (18K to around 32K, and as the expense of Full regions) with no actual increase in the number of active users. This in turn lead to the false sense that Second Life was “failing” in the years following, as the region count declined year-on-year, even though active user numbers remained relatively stable by comparison.]
  • As such, the risk / rewards to everyone involved in SL – the Lab as a business that needs to turn a profit, through the wishes of those who would like to hold a more capable region, to the potential impact on the existing land rental businesses operating across Second Life and there revenue models – need to be carefully assists (and often reassessed).

Mainland and PBR – Derrick Linden

[Video: 20:52-23:24]

  • Addressing Mainland appearing darker under PBR rendering:
    • Yes, a resolution in being developed.
    • The time frame for implementing it is liable to be in the short-term rather than people have to wait for an extended period for it to be deployed.
  • 2K Textures / PBR Materials on Mainland terrain:
    • This is a significant undertaking, but is under active discussion – just no time frame as yet.
    • There are technical / implementation issues that need to be addressed:
      • An automated system of mass update would be the simplest, but might not produce the most satisfactory result.
      • A semi-automated update process would offer greater flexibility of application, but would be far more time and resource intensive.
    • The aim is to try to determine an approach which balances the above and which also has the least direct impact on Mainland residents and users.

Zindra (the Adult Continent) and Adult Initiatives

Zindra – Derrick Linden

[Video: 24:06-25:27]

  • On connecting Zindra to the rest of the Mainland through relocation & a water channel:
    • Has not been considered – but this does not mean it could not be considered.
  • On expanding the Zindra continent:
    • No plans to expand Zindra at present.

Adult Initiatives – Patch Linden

[Video: 25:33-28:45]

  • As hinted at in the December 2023 annual review, the Lab has been considering more Adult-oriented initiatives [which was not, as was subsequently reported / claimed, anything to do with the theme for SL21B].
  • One specific new project in development is a streamlined on-boarding process for new users specifically interested in the more adult / spicier side of SL. It will include:
    • A new Adult-oriented Welcome hub / experience.
    • Provide information on more mature content.
    • Provide the means for them to acclimate to the platform.
    • And more.
This image was part of the December 2023 annual review blog post by Linden Lab, which might show an aspect of the new Adult-centre user onboarding hub / experience
  • This is part of a broader initiative that includes elements such as fostering community, offering living spaces, commercial environments, continental-sized land masses.
  • It is regarded as a “whole new way and approach” to having Adult communities in Second Life, and will be worked on over the next 6-8 months as a background project. More details will be made available in the future.
  • It will hopefully be an environment wherein established and new users within Adult-oriented interests can enjoy and appreciate SL’s Adult content in a setting that will be “very fitting for it”.

Governance and Support

General – Keira Linden

  • [Video: 29:46-32:03] Increasing Governance Awareness of hate speech:
    • The Governance team does all it can to remain abreast of global trends in hate speech, symbols used, etc., which could potential violate SL’s Terms of Service & Community Standards. This is through a mix of research, collaboration with subject matter experts through seminars, etc.
    • Obviously, Governance is also reliant on Abuse Reports filed by users when they encounter hate speech / imagery / symbols, etc., and this can also be used to expand awareness in the team as well as being responded to.
    • It is acknowledged that saying on top of things can be difficult, and factor such as cultural differences at times can come into play, hence why investigations take into consideration context.
  • [Video: 32:24-33:06] On providing insight into the tools and techniques Governance uses:
    • The team and the Lab does not publicly comment on the tools and techniques used during investigations.
    • One simple reason for this is that if those determined to make mischief know of the techniques and tools used by Governance, they would seek to find ways around them and try to avoid discovery, etc.
  • [Video: 33:14-34:18] On automated moderation tools:
    • [see also: 2024 SL Governance meeting week #19: Child Avatar Policy]
    • LL is looking at companies and products in the content moderation space.
    • The aim is to try to make the moderation of egregious content which clearly violates the SL Terms of Service and which could potentially violate laws outside of Second Life, as automated as possible.
    • Evaluation of these tools for suitability is still in progress, but the aim is that should they prove to be on use, to add them to the Governance toolkit and make the removal of offensive content on the platform faster.
  • [Video: 34:38-37:35] On Private Island tenant / land holder disputes:
    • This is not something the Lab can easily involve itself: sub-leasing land from another resident comes down to an agreement between to SL residents to which LL is not a party.
    • As such, and unless there is a clear violation of the SL Terms of Service involved in the situation, there is very little Governance can do.
    • That said, it can be good for Governance to received ARs on situations like this, as it can help to determine if there is a pattern of behaviour or similar, and whether it might be necessary to reach out to someone to discuss matters further.
  •  [Video: 37:44-39:34] On the value of Abuse Reports:
    • Abuse Reports are often the start of any investigation, and so submitting one with as much information as possible is always of value.
    • Without any Abuse Report, Governance has no visibility of any issue or potential issue, whether or not they can act upon it.
  • [Video: 46:53-48:42] On providing 24/7 support to a global user base:
    • Tickets can be submitted 24/7, even if not responded to on a 24/7 basis.
    • The is the support chatbot, which is available 24/7 and can deal with basic support requests.
    • Live chat support works to hours that have been determined to be the most effective for dealing with most types of enquiry, and as the platform has been improved, LL have seen a global reduction in the need to provide global 24/7 support.
    • Support observes US holidays, as that is where it is now based, and staff deserve the opportunity to spend time with their families, as such, all all of support is staffed during such holidays – but this does not necessarily mean there are no support staff.

Account Sharing and Business Use

[Background see: Allow Business Accounts to Share Access Responsibly (Feedback Portal) and DRD Facing Unfair TOS Enforcement (Forums).]

[Video: 39:39-42:30] – Patch Linden
  • On a simplified level, the Terms of Service and related policy specifies that account details should not be shared with another individual, and while often complicated, LL has tried to adhere to that.
  • LL look upon users’ accounts akin to a financial instrument – accounts have financial information on them and provide access to billing and payment methods and includes the ability to spend money.
  • Account access gives opportunities for irreparable damage to be done, such as deleting and purging a person’s entire inventory.
  • It is also true that relationships can and do go wrong, and can be seen to go wrong . Therefore, LL is protective as protective as possible about people’s accounts.
  • That said, LL has “heard the call”, and recognise that perhaps times have changed, and so might be amenable to change.

[Video: 42:30-44:32] – Keira Linden
  • Changes to process and policy can take time, particularly when it touches on multiples teams / departments (as this does).
  • However, this request / issue is actively being worked on in order to come up with an approach / solution that meets everyone’s interests.
  • Biggest concern is fraud / the need to protect people’s financial interest, simply because relationship can break down / things go wrong between people.
  • As such, it will take time to work out and produce something, but the issue is being worked on.

Content Theft & Sale: Setting a Policy Outside of DMCA – Keira Linden

[Video: 44:36-46:46]

  • It is “tricky” determining who is the rightful owner when two people claim to be the originators of content in SL.
  • As Intellectual Property (IP) is protected by international laws, via the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), LL must adhere to DMCA provision in order to be covered by it.
  • Therefore, in all matters of potential content theft, creators must submit a duly-completed DMCA form, and the team responsible will help guide people through the process.
    • Filing the DMCA form starts a creator on the legal process of protecting their named content not only in Second Life, but in the digital ecosphere as a whole.
    • While there may be very occasional situations where the IP violation is so obvious, LL might be able to take direct action, these instances are seen as very rare, and creators should not rely on fitting into this category.

Dealing with Charitable Organisation & Events & Disbursement of Funds Raised – Derrick Linden

[Video: 49:00-52:24]

  • Linden Lab has two levels of relationship with those raising funds through Second Life.
    • The highest is with established fund-raising partners in Second Life (e.g. the American Cancer Society; Team Fox / The Michael J. Fox Foundation, etc.). This level includes agreements in place for how they operate and how the Lab supports them.
    • The lower level and individuals and organisations raising money through SL, but where there is no formal partnership with LL. Here’ the Lab is more limited in what it can do in support of such events.
  • Working with those in the latter option tends to be limited to assisting them with listing their event(s) in the Destination Guide, verifying any past fund-raisers the individual / group has done, and, if the individual / group is working directly with a charitable organisation, getting verification that they are authorised to to so.
  • Ergo, if an event is listed in the Destination Guide, it has gone through verification as a legitimate fund-raiser, and the money raised will make its way to the intended recipient party/ies, with verification this as happened after the event.
  • This does not mean charity events which are not listed in the Destination Guide are someone “false” or not really raising funds as stated – it simply means that the event has not gone through any process + verification in order to be listed.

In Brief

Second Life Community Exhibition – Izzy Linden

[Video: 55:20-56:44]

  • Located at the Welcome Hub.
  • Is a three-phase development:
    • Phase One – initial opening with selected communities – completed.
    • Phase Two: initial expansion with submissions from communities – completed.
    • Phase Thee: final build-out of available exhibitor areas, with submissions from communities.
  • Once the available space has been built-out, LL plans to start rotating community displays in and out of the exhibition space so that all participating communities have exposure.
Second Life Community Exhibition (SLCE), at its opening in January 2024
  • Also included in Phase Three will be a gift spire, where all participating communities can place gifts if they so wish.
  • Communities wishing to join the Exhibition can do so via the SLCE application form,

Second Lifetime Premium and Premium Plus Subscriptions – Patch Linden

[Video: 57:24-57:51]

Will SL Support Multi-Partnering? – Patch Linden

[Video: 1:02:17-1:03:25]

  • Has been discussed, and a project to allow for multiple partners (including listed in profiles) is in development.
  • No time frame as to when it will be released – the design work has been done, and it is hoped that Engineering and Product will be able to work on in Soon™.

General Questions

Please refer to the video from 1:03:28 onwards.

SL21B Town Hall Summary: Product and Engineering (audio +video)

Posted on by Inara Pey
SL21B Product and Engineering Town Hall (l to r): Kali Linden, Signal Linden, Missy Mole (host), Grumpity Linden, Sntax Linden, Kyle Linden

 

On Tuesday, June 25th, 2024, Linden Lab held special Town Hall Meeting of the Product and Engineering team, featuring the following personnel:

  • Grumpity Linden – Senior VP of Product & Engineering.
  • Signal Linden – Director of Engineering Second Life Server & Viewer.
  • Kali Linden – Director of Engineering Web & Platform.
  • Sntax Linden – Senior Product Manager.
  • Kyle Linden –  Product Manager.

This is a summary of the topics discussed at the session. Audio extracts are included were appropriate, and a video of the session is embedded at the end of this article – my thanks to Pantera for providing it.

 Table of Contents

For ease of reference, timestamps are provided to the relative points within the video where specific topics are discussed, allowing readers who prefer to listen to the comments directly to be able to do so.

A Little Background

[Video: 2:37-8:48]

A brief introduction to each of the people participating:

  • Kali Linden: has been with Linden Lab for nine years and heads-up the teams responsible for the Lab’s web properties (Marketplace, Secondlife.com, etc., the account management and log-in services, etc.
  • Signal Linden: a software engineer with a long history with virtual environments (MU* platforms, etc.), and started using SL as as high school student. He joined LL in 2015, initially working on Sansar. His background is software engineering, and he now leads both the viewer and server engineering teams.
  • Grumpity Linden: joined SL as a contractor with The Product Engine and helping with the development of (the then) Viewer 2.0, and formally joined LL in 2014. As the Senior VP of Product and Engineering she is responsible for coordinating both teams and overseeing their various projects, often in a hands-on capacity (as with SL Mobile).
  • Sntax Linden: manages the Lab’s web properties under Kali Linden (as he leads the monthly Web User Group meetings), and currently has a specific focus on the Marketplace and improving Second Life’s commerce environment.
  • Kyle Linden: as a product manager, is focused on creator tools within the platform. He is a 17-year veteran of Second Life and has worked in most areas of the Linden Lab / the platform in that time.

Major Announcements

SL Mobile

[Video: 1:09:25-1:16:34]

The SL Mobile log-in screen (splash image changes with each log-in), the connecting screen giving destination, and the in-world view with drop-down menu active
  • The App is not currently visible on  Google Play, as new apps take up to 7 days to become searchable there.
  • It is hoped the Beta can open out more widely Soon™.
  • As a Beta product, there is still much more work to do – but a lot has been achieved with the assistance of the closed alpha users / testers.
    • However, SL Mobile will never provide all of the features found in the viewer, as it is impractical to do so (e.g. in-depth content creation is unlikely to be a part of the app).
  • In keeping with the above, feedback from those trying the Beta is welcomed – refer to the link to the official blog post above for details.
  • Feedback is requested through the SL channels, not through either the Apple Store or Google Play, as the latter could unbalance the app’s ratings unfairly, given it is only a Beta product, not a released product.
  • LL are still in consultation with Apple over the issue of the iOS version of the app not being allowed to access Adult rated regions.
  • LL have been in discussions with Unity (as the app is built on that engine) over Unity’s sudden licensing changes earlier in 2024, and the belief is that this will not be an issue for SL mobile in the future.

Scripting and Lua(u)

[Video: 26:31-31:17] – Signal Linden

[Background: In February 2024 it was confirmed LL is looking to natively adopt Luau, a Lua VM implementation viewer-side as a means of providing better support for, and control of, scripted agents (including automated testing capabilities using such agents; providing a means of supporting custom UI extensions / plug-ins without having to resort to C++ and adding custom displays to present exiting information in the viewer. See here and here for more on the initial announcement. The following is in addition to that work.]

  • Signal indicated at as well as running Lua natively on the client-side, LL is now looking to replace the Mono VM runtime engine with Luau’s runtime engine on the back-end.
  • This means that scripts should be more efficient in their memory use and execute faster.
  • The work is still in the benchmarking / development phase, and more information will be provided as work progresses.
  • As this is now a viewer / server project, it is liable that information will be made available through both the Simulator User Group meetings and the TPV Developer meetings, as it become prescient.

  • Rider Linden added further context to the above in local chat:
The project will end up swapping the underlying Mono VM out for a Lua VM under the hood … Our plan is to support both [LSL and lua]. We will end up compiling the LSL down to the Lua bytecode. [So essentially] 2 VMs. LSO (the old stuff) and ultimately the Lua VM. The Mono -> Lua bytecode change should be invisible.

Content Creation

Educating Creators (Best Practices, Content Optimisation, etc) – Kyle Linden

[Video: 10:00-11:42]

  • The existing community of Second life creators as their greatest educational asset, and so are thinking about ways to spotlight creators who provide videos, guides, tutorials, and / or by teaching in-world, etc., on a “best practice” basis.
  • That said, LL acknowledge their own documentation is often poor – much is out-of-date, features are often released without full documentation [which also might never follow as a result], and focus needs to be placed on this.
  • Believes that LL are going to try to build a better repository / resource creators and users can use to find the kinds of tutorials / class / video guides mentioned above.

Improvements to Mesh Rigging and the Avatar Skeleton – Signal Linden

[Video: 12:07-15:31]

  • LL is aware the current approach to rigging mesh and attachments to the avatar is a non-trivial task is is looking to ways to improve the workflow for creators so that content built outside of SL can be more directly imported and “work”.
  • This involved moving to modern content creation standards [i.e. the glTF 2.0 specification, as frequently referenced in this blog].
  • First phase of this work currently in development with glTF scene import, which will prototype a “drag and drop” approach to taking content from Blender and dropping it into Second Life [details on the glTF import / export work can be found in my CCUG summaries].
  • One outcome of this work will be the ability to have more “local mesh preview” capabilities, where content can be temporarily displayed in the viewer exactly as it appears in the tool used to create it (e.g. Substance Painter, Blender), without having to go through any form of upload conversion (somewhat like the Local Textures capability).
  • Further into the future, this work will mean SL can support custom armatures (rigs / skeletons).

Animation Improvements – Priorities and Editing – Signal Linden

[Video 15:38-17:08]

  • This is seen as an important capability by many, both for helping to improve the smoothness of things like Animation Override systems and in avoiding potential conflicts between animations.
  • It has often been requested and is something the Lab would like to tackle. There are requests on the Feedback Portal, and people are asked to vote on them to indicate how important they think this is, and new ideas should be submitted there.
  • Sees the issue potentially being tackled in a number of ways (e.g. better scripted support, supporting different animation formats, etc.).

2K PBR Terrain on Mainland / Support for PBR and 2K textures on Avatars -Signal Linden

[Video: 19:12-21:16]

  • 2K PBR terrain on Mainland more a Product Operations question than an engineering question.
  • 2K textures + PBR support for Avatar Appearance [Bakes on Mesh/Bake Service; wearables assets (inventory), appearance editing, etc.]: No 1 most voted request on the Feedback Portal and is currently being planned. Deployment should eventually be a combination of both at the same time, once ready.
PBR terrain. Credit: Linden Lab

PBR and Improvements – Signal Linden

[Video: 32:53-40:39]

  • The graphics team is continuing to work on optimising PBR performance, including fixing redraw bugs, memory use, etc.
  • This work is in part focused on optimisations for mid-range hardware (e.g. around US $800 brand-new).
  • With regards to MacOS, there is a focus on the current memory issues
  • LL recognise that the introduction is a world-changer in terms of SLs visuals – but it is also a world-changer in allowing content creators to more readily use their tools to produce good content for Second Life without having to resort to arcane measures.
  • Appreciate the change can be painful for some, and are trying to respond where possible with updates and improvements.
  • Pointed out (again) that the arrival of PBR is just one step in the overall plan for enhancing Second Life’s capabilities and full leverage modern content creation tools and techniques.

WebRTC

[Video: 45:48-50:00] – Signal Linden

[Background: WebRTC (RTC=”real-time communication”) is bing implemented to replace Vivox as the Voice component in Second Life. It is both a viewer and server project, with the viewer code supplied as a library with a wrapper, so there will no longer be a separate 3rd party Voice .EXE plug-in. It will offer a more extensible, “industry standard” approach to voice in SL, with better fidelity and sound quality. Initial deployment will see it work alongside Vivox (with some limitations).]

  • The release candidate viewer can be found on the Alternate Viewers web page.
  • The switch-over will be carried out in collaboration  / cooperation with TPVs.
  • Work has been put into securing the use of WebRTC Voice against attempts to eavesdrop, obtain people’s IP addresses, etc., by routing peer-to-peer communications via an internal server using a Lab proxy IP.

Commerce

  • [Video: 58:11-1:00:33] Mult-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Kali Linden
    • Will be added to the Marketplace.
    • It will be opt-in, as per the viewer / SL dashboard.
    • The overall goal is to have MFA applied to all points of entry to SL for those using it.
  • [Video: 1:00:59-1:03:01] Marketplace questions – Sntax Linden
    • Marketplace Search has been undergoing improvements and will continue to do so, all the the aim of improving the ability of content creators to promote their content and buyers get to the content they want to see.
    • Marketplace on mobile devices: There is a project underway to update the Marketplace design and UI which it is hoped will make it more accessible to smaller screens, and when using the in-viewer web browser.
    • Feedback on these welcome through the Feedback Portal and at the monthly Web User Group meetings.
  • [Video: 1:03:05-1:04:16] CasperVend / Marketplace integration – Kali Linden
    • A road map is being developed as to what makes the most sense to do first with CasperVend integration in general.
    • Again the onus is on making the general shopping and merchant experience better across the Marketplace and when using / interacting with CasperVend products.
    • It is likely one of the first areas for integration will be having CasperVend delivering go through the same mechanism as Marketplace deliveries, simplifying CasperVend redeliveries.
    • Longer-term going is to have things integrated so that Merchants can manage their activities through a single point, whether selling through CasperVend or / and via the MP.

In Brief

Upcoming Initiatives – Kyle Linden

[Video: 24:40-26:20]

  • Combat 2.0 [ first tranche of work updating the Second Life Combat system (SLCS – see my Combat User Group summaries).
  • Implementation of game controller support (e.g X-Box game pads).
  • Introduction of WebRTC Voice.

Additional Viewer Updates – Kyle Linden

[Video: 42:15-45:29]

  • As well as those mentioned (glTF scene import, WebRTC, etc):
    • More sample content to the Library (e.g. mirrors).
    • HDRI support for skies, etc.
    • Possible updates to the library EEP settings to HDR.
    • Possibly extending the use of emojis in Display Names (this is problematic as it requires Unicode data to be stored, and so is only being explored at this time and many not make it to feature release).
Emojis in the viewer (and most / all TPVs)

Accessibility Initiative – Kyle Linden

[Video: 51:45-54:50]

  • Some of work going into SL over the last few years has been focused on laying the foundations for improved accessibility options.
  • One of the first elements of this work to surface will be server-side translation for text.
  • In the future, the deployment of WebRTC could potentially allow for direct text-to-speech / speech to text.
  • AI tools might be considered for giving access assistance to SL.
  • Those with ideas for making SL more accessible to all should file feature requests via the Feedback Portal.
  • It was pointed out that creators could help with accessibility by giving their creations meaningful names where appropriate, rather than leaving them as the default “Object”.

The future of Mesh Upload Prices – Grumpity Linden

[1:05-06-1:05:58]

  • With the work on glTF mesh uploads and scene imports, LL will be re-evaluating the cost of mesh uploads across all membership levels.
  • In the interim, the change to make 2K texture uploads  free for Premium Plus subscribers is now live.

General Questions in Last 15 Minutes

Please refer to the video from 1:16:53 onwards.

 

May 2024 Community Round Table with audio extracts + video

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Linden Lab

 

On Monday, May 20th, 2024, Linden Lab held its first Community Round Table – described as opportunities for Second Life users to meet, hear from and address senior staff from the Lab on various subjects, etc.

Intended to be the first such event, this session featured Brad Oberwager – Oberwolf Linden – co-owner and Executive Chairman of Linden Research (Linden Lab), and Grumpity Linden, Senior VP of Product & Engineering with Brett Linden, the Lab’s Director of Marketing, chairing the event as moderator.

 Table of Contents

The session lasted 90 minutes, and – as might be expected given recent policy changes in the wake of allegations / concerns and the announcement about the sale of Tilia Inc., as well as interest in technology development such as Second Life Mobile – there was a certain focus to discussions and questions. It was recorded by multiple parties, and is available on You Tube, including by my informal partner-in-crime for attending and recording such sessions and meetings, Pantera Północy, and that video is embedded at the end of this article – my thanks, as always, for her doing so.

What follows is not a full transcript of the meeting, but rather my best attempt to summarise core topics plus questions and answers. Included are extracts from my own audio recording of the session where I have deemed them to be relevant / helpful. When listening to them please note that:

  • They have been edited to remove pauses, incomplete or self-corrected comments/ sentences, and/or repetition. This has been done to (hopefully) improve the flow of the audio and remove distractions.
  • All such editing has been carried out without any intentional attempts to alter any of the context of what is being said by the speaker.
  • Timestamps for the video recording are given within the topic heading below, so that if there is any doubt, audio extracts can be compared to a complete, unedited version.
  • This is a summary by subject matter – as such, timestamp references to the video may not be in chronological order.

Introduction and Setting Expectations – Brett Linden

[Video: 0:00-3:00]

  • Noted the session was designed to be the first in a series of Round Table events with members of the Lab’s leadership.
  • Reminded people that it is a new initiative for everyone – including those at the Lab, and as such lessons will be taken from the session as to what works / does not work and use this to adjust the format for future Round Table Events.
  • Stated that local chat would be tracked for questions from the audience, and attempts would be made to address them, but:
    • Due to time constraints / the volume of questions submitted by the pre-meeting form, those would be the focus of topics discussed and the feedback offered.
    • Some questions might be deferred, simply because those representing LL might not be the best-placed to give an answer (e.g. technical questions or similar), with a note that many of these might be best addressed at the various user group meetings (refer also to the Second Life public calendar for meeting times and date).
  • Indicated that as a Round Table, the flow was intended to be two-way, not just outwards from LL, and as such responses / feedback in chat would be taken away for review.
  • Set the general parameters of the session (e.g. individual issues, such as with account matters, support, etc., would not be addressed in the session; use of the Feedback Portal for putting forward bug reports, requests and ideas, noting this is viewed from the top-down at Linden Lab.

Making SL Better as the Lab’s Owner – Oberwolf Linden

[Video: 3:01-15:37]

  • Offered context on his perspective, noting he sees Linden Lab and Second Life as two different entities, so has different perspectives on each.
  • In 3.5 years of ownership, has learned that there is a huge amount of passion for the platform across the board – residents, creators, Lab staff, and even from many outside of the platform (noting the latter can be both positive and negative).
  • Re-iterated his belief that he sees running Second Life as a moral imperative, as it benefits so many.
  • Sees the platform’s complexity not just in technical terms, but in making it the platform the best experience for those engaged in it as residents / creators – because we all have different wants and needs. Specifically highlighted:
    • Operating the Linden Dollar whilst ensuring the majority of fiat money passing through the LindeX goes to creators.
    • The fact that SL is a virtual world for adults, supporting content and activities other platforms do not allow, and the need to make the platform safe for all those using it, not matter what their interests.
    • The need for policies and process to enable the above.

  • As such, believes that running the platform is about relying on values, rather than trying to solve for everything, as the latter means a state of utopia wherein everything is a bland uniformity.
  • Therefore improving the platform needs to be seen as how, collectively – Lab, residents and creators – can work to make the platform the best it can be.
  • For the lab, this means being guided by the Tao of Linden:
    • Walk in Our Residents’ Shoes: To consider everything – up to and including the kind of projects the Lab can take on with the resources available – in terms of what benefits Second Life users the most.
    • Be Brave. Fail Fast. Fail Forward: broadly means trying things but without breaking other things, and learning from what does and does not work, and learn from it.
    • Assume Good Intent and Practice Good Intent: notes this as the hardest – but the Lab really tries to assume good intent in all things – including negative feedback from users – and to take that aspect and work both internally and with users (as much as possible) to bring about positive change.
via Linden Lab
  • Believes that by relying on values and using the Tao helps the Lab to not just be in service to Second Life but an active part of it.
  • A further part of bringing about change for the better in Second Life is about users accepting the reverse of the Tao: that the Lab is trying to make changes with good intent, to improve the platform and keep it relevant, even if the change is seen by some as impacting them negatively.
  • As a part of the above, one of the changes LL is trying to make is to be more transparent about what they are doing and why they are doing it – which is not always easy as changes tend to cause people to react in one of three ways, depending on how it affects them: enthusiasm for it; indifference to it; anxiety / anger against it.
  • His particular focus on making SL better is that of resources: where should the available time money, resources and her personal energy go.
  • Commented that the above forms the content of what he will go on to say during the session, and that is was fully aware that his comments may well be parsed, and accepts that as a part of trying to be more transparent.

Child Avatar Policy

Preface – Grumpity Linden

[Video: 17:09-18:55, 19:27-20:23 and 21:25-21:40]

  • The updates to the Child Avatar Policy were put together with considerable consultant with Lab employees / contractors who use child avatars as Alt accounts, and with some members of the various child avatar groups in Second Life.
  • Pointed to the recent Governance meeting on the matter at which many of the questions raised in advance of this Round Table had already been addressed (and referenced this blog – thank you, Grumpity, that’s much appreciated!). Links for reference:
  • Indicated that the Lab will continue to give clarification on the policy in response to feedback, with the Child Policy FAQ being the best place to read the most recent updates.
  • Re-iterated that Linden Lab does value the breadth and depth of Second Life user community, and welcomes those who role-play as child avatars for positive reasons.
  • Requested that people understand that the changes made to the Child Avatar Policy have been done with good intent, and to both protect those role-playing with child avatars and the Lab itself from all moral, ethical and legal accusations about the sexualisation of child avatars in SL or their use in sexual role-play.

Policy and Changes – Broader Context – Oberwolf Linden

[Video: 22:04-27:00]

  • These changes are not only driven by the internal needs of Second Life / Linden Lab but also by external needs. For example:
    • If PayPal were to encounter reports of apparent inappropriate behaviour involving minors in Second Life and without proper context, they might react by withdrawing support for payments to / from the platform through their service, with a potentially massive negative impact on the platform.
    • Both Apple and Google also have terms and conditions governing apps being placed on their services and these also have to be not only taken into consideration but adhered to if SL users are to be able to obtain the Mobile app when available.
  • Ergo, when policies, terms of use, etc., are being drawn up and / or updated, there may well be external aspects / legal ramifications impacting them, requirements demanded by other companies and / or society as a whole, none of which may actually understand Second Life – but may well negatively react to unfavourable reports, etc., about the platform without ever seeking to understand the realities of the platform / situation.
  • All of this applies to almost everything the Lab does with Second Life, and why he says that making the platform “better” is so complicated: there are many aspects to changes – technical, policy, etc., – that extend well beyond the platform’s active users – especially with regards to his own moral imperative to keep the platform going so it can continue to be a place of safety, fun and importance for so many.

Modesty Layers

[Video:  20:25-21:25]

  • The modesty Layer for child avatars will come into effect from Sunday, June 30th, 2024.
  • The Child Policy FAQ is the place to find out the latest information on the modesty layer requirements, and is updated regularly.
  • It was stated there would be a further Governance User Group meeting to discuss the policy and requirements on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 [Note: at the time of writing this summary, the June dates for the Governance meetings are given as June 6th and June 20th, so best to check the Second Life public calendar to see if an additional meeting is added, or if one of these two dates is actually used].

Questions

  • [Video: 49:20-52:03] What form can the modesty layer take?
    • The modesty layer on child avatars must not be removable. Ergo, it cannot be an alpha layer or any form of wearable layers, as these can be removed and replaced.
    • All skins for child avatars (those presenting as under 18) must have a baked-on modesty layer.
    • The Governance team is (or is due) to have discussions with affected content creators on implementing modesty layers, etc.
  • [Video: 54:06-57:49] Under the updated Child Avatar Policy, will consulting adults using adult presenting avatars still be able to use pet names such as “mummy”, “baby”, “baby girl”, etc., which might subjective be judged as being child-like behaviour?
    • In the context of the question, yes they will. This is not about limiting people’s second lives per se, it is about being compliant with society’s expectations vis. the sexualisation of minors and the use of under-age characters in a sexual context, and emerging laws (such as those in the EU) emerging to safeguard against this.
  • [Video: 57:47-59:08] Are youthful anime avatars subject to the updated Child Avatar Policy?
    • The rule of thumb is that if someone is presenting an avatar under the age of 18 and is role-playing a character under the age of 18, then they must comply with the policy.
    • In dealing with issues, LL look at a range of factors: how the avatar presents, the contents of the avatar profile, and multiple other factors; the fact that an anime avatar has large eyes and a child-like face would not be taken as the sole indication it is presenting and being used as someone under 18.
    • [Video 59:09-1:02:25] Oberwolf Linden noted:
      • Many of the questions on the Child Avatar Policy are requesting rigid, black-and-white responses, when really, there needs to be some wriggle-room, which the Lab is trying to give through some of their answers.
      • Hard-and-fast rules would be too restrictive on people, so there has to be some greyness.
      • People must use their own common sense; they will know when they see sexualised.
      • Users need to trust that the Lab are not doing things like the Child Avatar Policy changes in a vacuum; they are trying to find a way to safeguard Second Life without unduly restricting people’s ability to have an enjoyable Second Life.
    • [Video 62:25-63:58] Could the policy be abused – 20 people make false claims against a specific user and have then banned?
      • Sort answer: no. Abuse Reports are fully investigated, and only where there is substantive evidence to support the report’s claims, is action taken.
      • The number of reports received about an individual / situation does not factor into any investigation – so it doesn’t matter if one report or 20 reports are filed.
      • The Governance User Group is the place to learn about the Abuse Report process.
    • [Video: 63:59-67:43] A statement was made about finding it upsetting that those invested in their child avatar might now be unable to attend things like concerts because they are being hosted on Adult regions.
      • Oberwolf concurred that situations like this are upsetting. However, as noted above, pointed out that there considerations external to SL which need to be taken into account, as these sadly do place limitations on where those presenting as children can go to help protect the platform as a whole.
      • As such, he begs people to be flexible and while it might be discomforting to them, if there is an event they really want to attend that is off-limits to child avatars, to change to an avatar presenting as over 18 and help safeguard SL for the future.

Age Verification – Grumpity Linden

[Video: 52:10-53:47]

  • The Lab is investigating third-party age verification tools.
  • Any option that may be selected has to be the least intrusive possible; the aim is not to put road blocks that prevent people from enjoying their SL.
  • Any third party partner LL might select for the verification process must be compliant with all current data privacy laws. Companies that do not store data beyond the point of verification “all look very reasonable”
  • However, no decision has been made “one way or the other” on the use of such tools; they are currently only under consideration for possible adoption.

Thunes and Tilia – Oberwolf Linden

[Video: 29:13-39:23]

  • It was announced on April 23rd, 2024 that Linden Research was selling io, their all-in-one payments platform to Singapore-based business-2-business (B2B) payments infrastructure firm Thunes (see: Linden Lab to sell payments platform Tilia to Thunes).
  • This announcement was followed by a Lab Gab special on the news (see below), which I summarised here.
  • Many of the questions raised for the Round Table were answered in that – so please refer to my summary / the video below.

  • In brief:
    • Thunes is acquiring Tilia – not the Linden Dollar of the LindeX – the latter remain fully under the Lab’s control.
    • Thunes is not gaining access to Second Life user data beyond the financial information they require to manage transactions (e.g. L$ purchases, processing payments from SL to fiat money accounts).
    • Tilia will be rebranded to Thunes, but will continue to operate out of San Francisco as its primary base of operations.
    • In terms of benefits to Second Life users, they will be able to take advantage of many more options to pay for L$ and by which the money they cash out from Second Life can reach them – these include a broader range of supported currencies, the use of digital wallets, etc.
    • There are no plans at the Lab – who set them – to change the current fees charged in relations to L$ transactions or cashing out, as a result of the sale of Tilia. However:
      • A caveat to this was the acknowledgement that is Thunes decide to significantly increase the fees they charge LL for using their services, then that might be “problematic” for LL.
      • The above does not mean LL will never change fees: the LindeX and SL cost money to run. As such, future changes to fees (up or down) to cover the likes of increased costs or to address improvements or shifting requirements, may occur.
    • A guiding principle used in the decision to sell Tilia to Thunes was the benefit it could bring to Second Life users – not simply who is offer the most money.
  • In response to a question asked, PayPal will continue to be supported, and the relationship will not change as a result of the Tilia deal.

SL Mobile – Grumpity Linden

[Video: 39:50-48:46]

  • Accessing Adult regions:
    • SL Mobile is currently blocked from accessing Adult rated regions in SL. This is due to policies set by the App Store providers on the types of content they will accept for apps being sold through their services.
    • LL are trying to refine this to a more granular level to allow access to Adult regions – such as having the App not display Adult content, although this is a complex solution to implement.
    • Ultimately LL would like to bring all of Second Life to Mobile, and so is continuing to examine ways and means to do so.

  • There are no major new announcements for Mobile at present. However:
    • The app is getting “closer” to being listed on the app stores – but no indication as to when this might actually happen.
    • Gaining a listing will allow LL to open the SL Mobile programme to Premium subscribers.
  • Oberwolf Linden made an impassioned plea for users to give the Lab time to develop and enhance the Mobile App, requesting:
    • People not try to hack around the Adult rating block, as this will likely result in the app getting thrown off of the app stores.
    • Not to get too upset or negative about functionality they think is “missing” – such as buying L$ or viewing the Marketplace, etc. These are capabilities that LL will try to address, but they will require more time.
    • To review the App on their preferred app store – but to do so honestly and whilst keeping in mind that there will be much more to do and add to the app to improve it.
    • To give the team working on the app time and space to add functionality and options as they continue to work on it once it is on the app stores, and not just see it as a finished product.

General Questions

[Video:  68:26-End]

  • Skill Gaming: a question was asked on how possible abuses of Sill Gaming system (e.g. unfair pay-outs, etc) are investigated and how the Lab monitors Skill Gaming systems.
    • The short answer was that abuses are investigated in a similar manner as other abuses in SL, and specifics on investigation techniques, etc., cannot be provided.
    • Those believing they have been subject to abuse as a result of participating in a skill games should file an abuse report and provide as much information as possible.
  • Adult Content: what is the future of Adult content in SL and initiatives such as the Zindra Adult continent? Addressed by Brett Linden.
    • LL have no intention of changing the dynamic of Adult content in Second Life in a way that is either discriminatory or which reduces it.
    • LL recognises it is one of the fabric of Second Life and has a robust creator community and is a vibrant and meaningful part of people’s lives.
    • While specifics could not be given, there are initiatives LL is developing which will hopefully demonstrate the above.
    • Oberwolf Linden added that while there are no plans to curtail adult content and activities in Second Life – and recognising that Adult activities are as much a part of the virtual world as the physical world – in order to comply with app store requirements, etc., there is the aforementioned need to “hide” it from SL Mobile.
  • Community Exhibition: a question as to how the Community Exhibition is being managed, how communities are chose and how they can participate.
  • What is going to be done to the in-world content creation tools, as opposed to the emphasis on using external tools?
    • Answered in terms of the drive to open SL to more industry standards [e.g. the glTF 2.0 specification, which is governing he graphics and content creation improvements already in progress] and make it easier for content creators from outside SL to engage with the platform and bring content and experiences to the platform, thus helping to grow it and the economy and benefit everyone.
    • There is a desire to streamline the content creation process, make it more predictable and enable more of the collaborative spirit of content creation and the use of the in-world tools [e.g. glTF scene import / export with some manipulation of nodes using the in-world tools – see my CCUG summaries for more].
  • Final word from Oberwolf:
    • Continue to support the platform.
    • Be mindful of the fact that LL are trying to do the best they can for the platform and the users.
    • Again asked for understanding that as SL Mobile reaches a wider audience, they will find many things “broken” [or missing], and rather than complaining about the broken aspect, help improve it by filing bug reposts and offering feedback on improvements, etc.
    • Requested all residents help grow SL by encouraging people to try it and get involved – not for financial reasons on LL’s part, but to help grow the use base and thus further strengthen the platform.

 

Linden Lab: updates to policies and new initiatives on community relations

Posted on by Inara Pey
© and ® Linden Lab

On Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, Linden Lab issued the promised updates to both public-facing (i.e. linked to the Terms of Service) and internal policies.

These updates, together with additional internal changes (as noted below), have been made in the wake of investigations carried out in the wake of allegations made pseudonymously in February via the social journalism website Medium (and since removed).

In March, Linden Lab Executive Chairman Brad Oberwager (Oberwolf Linden) made a public statement on these matters indicating as much as was deemed necessary at the time (see my own reporting here, if interested), and that a further statement would be made in due course. It was further indicated by Keira Linden, speaking during a Lab Gab session released on April 19th, 2024 (and summarised in my own words here) that updates to policies were (then) being finalised, so the May 2nd statement – entitled Enhancing Our World Together – comes as no surprise.

Within it, Mr. Oberwager provides a short summary of the outcome of the investigations into the allegations made, before going on to summarise actions that have been / are being undertaken in the wake of those investigations, stating:

The investigation determined that all Lindens and contractors have stayed in compliance with our own community guidelines, as well as unwritten, ethical guidelines. I do not make this statement lightly, and I know there will be plenty of discussion. What I can say is that there is no incentive, monetary or otherwise, for me to mislead the community. At some point, the community has to trust that we, the Lindens, do well when the community thrives. We may make mistakes along the way, and we know that our community will engage with us when we do. Second Life is an enormous virtual world and we have to walk a very fine line between policing and preserving freedoms while also protecting the future growth and health of Second Life as a platform that respects diversity and creative expression among our community.
The findings did highlight opportunities for improvement. As a result, we are making updates to our internal policies to raise the standard for how Linden employees should respectfully engage with community members. This addresses multiple forms of engagement including how we present ourselves, how we interact with the community (even in moments of conflict), and how we minimize the perception of conflict of interest and favouritism in our interactions. 

As a result, the Lab has:

  • Updated the Child Avatar Policy related to the Second Life Terms of Service (ToS) – hence the need to re-accept the ToS on accessing Second Life or its related web properties.
  • Updated internal Policies and Procedures
  • Implemented personnel changes
  • Initiated management improvement programs
  • Committed to Community Roundtables (see below)
  • Committed to increased transparency and accountability

In terms of the the changes to the Child Avatar Policy, the statement notes:

We know that this update has the potential to cause confusion or concern in our community, so we’ve prepared an FAQ which we will continue to update as questions come up.

Community Round Table

  • The first of the Community Round Table events, as referenced in the statement and as previously announced by Linden Lab, will take place between 09:30-11:00 SLT on  Monday, May 20th, 2024, although the venue still to be announced (at the time of writing).
  • The event will feature Mr. Oberwager among those taking part from the Lab. It has been indicated that this event will have a focus on the acquisition of Tilia Inc., by Thunes, but also that reasonable questions / concerns on matter such as this might be addressed.
  • At the time of writing, and anonymous form for those wishing to ask questions of the Lab / offer feedback / suggestions on improving Second Life remained open (but I would advise using it sooner rather than later, if you intend to do so).
  • There will also be a Q&A portion during the Round Table at which questions  / ideas can be put forward.

Please note: if you opt to comment on the Lab’s statement, as outlined in this article, please refrain from discussing / naming any individuals, whether or not they may be related to the matters pertaining thereto.

 

Linden Lab to sell payments platform Tilia to Thunes

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Tilia.io

It has been announced that Tilia.io, the all-in-one payments platform established by Linden Lab in 2019 and which manages payment processing and cashing out for Second Life (as well as supporting a number of other platforms and virtual environments), is to be acquired by Singapore-based business-2-business (B2B) payments infrastructure firm Thunes.

The acquisition of Tilia will be for an undisclosed sum, and follows an agreement being reached between Thunes and Tilia majority owner Linden Research (the formal name of Linden Lab). However, it is still currently awaiting regulatory approval, so has not  – as of the time of writing – being finalised.

News of the acquisition was made public via a press release widely circulated by Thunes on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024 (see links below for some of the reporting on the announcement), and has sparked comments, discussions and questions on a number of Second Life related forums.

Who Are Thunes?

Thunes is regarded as a start-up company, although it has been operating for some eight years. As a B2B payments company, Thunes powers payments for major brands such as Uber and Deliveroo, and also to global Fintech companies such as PayPal and Remitly.

They boast that with a single connection, businesses and their customers can both send payments to, and receive payments from 133 countries around the world, with support for 84 currencies and some 550 alternative payment methods (ATMs), including 129 recognised mobile wallets. Whilst headquartered in Singapore, the company has regional offices in London where communications on the deal with Linden Lab are being handled), Paris, Shanghai, New York, Dubai, and Nairobi. In addition to providing a B2B payments infrastructure direct to businesses across the world, Thunes also provides payment services to the banking industry, a service it is aggressively growing in order to more fully compete with SWIFT, the world’s dominant international financial network.

In December 2023 Thunes achieved a market valuation of some $900 million, with its series C funding round bringing the company some US $202 million investment – including from the likes of Visa, the global payment giant, Singaporean government investment vehicle EDBI, and US-based Endeavor Catalyst.

Why Would They be Interested In Tilia†?

Tilia is particularly attractive to Thunes as it is already a fully licensed Money Service Business (MSB) across 48 US states and territories, thus allowing Thunes to readily extend its services to business owners and customers across the United States – including Tilia’s current customer base, which obviously includes Second Life, as well as VRChat, Upland, Avatus and Unity. In addition, through brand recognition within the content creation market and its expertise in managing token-based virtual economies such as the Linden Dollar, Tilia provides Thunes with a ready-made means of expanding its presence in these markets both in the United States and globally.

What Does This Mean for Second Life‡?

This is perhaps harder to quantify from the side-lines. However, there are some points which may be worthy of note:

  • Following regulatory approval, Tilia will be re-branded Thunes, but will continue to be based in San Francisco.
  • The agreement is subject to an exclusive 5-year collaboration, Thunes will provide payment processing and payouts to Linden Lab across Thunes’ global network.
    • This should allow Second Life users and creators to enjoy more options for buying Linden Dollars and for cashing-out “in a more cost-efficient manner and with increased transparency”, with the Lab adding via a comment on a Reddit thread, “without additional costs”.
  • In support of the above, the Thunes press release includes the following statement from Brad Oberwager, Linden Lab’s co-owner and Executive Chairman:
Thunes is an exceptional company that directly connects nearly every payment method and market worldwide. The combination of Tilia and Thunes will give Linden Lab’s customers more payment choices, and the ability to receive pay-outs in real-time, anywhere, into the wallet or bank account of their choice. It will be business as usual for our people and our customers as we bring Tilia and Thunes together.

I reached out to Linden Lab on hearing the news, and was informed that although the company has nothing further to add to the Thunes press release at this time, those from the company who will be attending the forthcoming Community Round Table (informally announced during the April 19th Lab Gab session, and featured in my summary of that event) will be prepared to discuss the acquisition. I’ll have a post on the Round Table as soon as all information relating to it (where, time, how to attend / watch) is publicly released.

With thanks to Coffee Pancake for the alert.

Related Links

† Please note I am not an financial services expert, this section is therefore a subjective best guess.
‡ Again, please note this is a subjective best guess, even given the supporting quotes.

Note: updated to better reflect Tilia’s relationship with Second Life.

Linden Lab: statement on recent allegations

Posted on by Inara Pey
© and ® Linden Lab

In February 2024, an article was published on the social journalism website Medium¹, making various allegations against Linden Lab and some of its employees and contractors together with various users on the Second Life platform, as well as claims relating to some of the services provided to users of the platform.

At the time of the article’s publication, I contacted the Lab concern its claims and allegations, but other than referencing a broad statement being given to those contacting Support on the matter, and an off-the-record comment, there was no official response for the purposes of quoting. As such, I decided not to comment on the claims or the Lab’s response until such time there was any formal statement on the matter, rather than writing on the basis of pure speculation.

Such a statement was made on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 (when I happened to be away from Second Life entirely, dealing with an exceptionally hectic personal life, hence the somewhat belated nature of this piece). It came from company owner and Executive chairman, Brad Oberwager, who is, as many know, extremely hands-on with Linden Lab and its products.

If you have not already done so, you can read the full statement from Mr. Oberwager here.

For my part, I’ll simply highlight the core part of the statement, coming as it does after numerous in-world and on-line demands that the Lab publicly respond to the piece published via Medium’s website:

I promise you that we are taking this very seriously. Very. Full stop. 
I promise we hear you. We know you’re angry and you’re confused. We are working to do our best to resolve your concerns and restore your trust in us. These are complicated issues and we want to do things right. We will make mistakes along the way. I wish I could say we will not, but we will. 
As owner of Linden Lab, I have initiated a thorough investigation, both internally and with external partners, to review whether or not there have been any violations of our company and community policies by employees, contractors, or community members. While early preliminary internal investigations suggest that some of the accusations are unfounded, I want to make sure that we get additional investigative support externally to ensure that the process is fair and thorough.
One of our top priorities has been to ensure the safety of our residents, moles, employees, and families. There are real people behind the avatars, and it has been important to confirm that nobody was in actual physical danger. 
Additionally, I am taking proactive steps to review and revamp many of our policies, including a comprehensive review of our Community Standards, Content Guidelines, and Ageplay Policy. Any violation detected will be met with swift enforcement actions to protect our community. We’ll be sharing these revised policies in the coming weeks and, critically, we are turning to the community to help us shape the future of how governance operates within Second Life. 

While there were almost immediate calls on on social media and in-world for the Lab to make known its response to the allegations made and provide “full transparency” (or even a basic “we are investigating”), they were perhaps premature.

Given the seriousness of some of the allegations made (including the potential for them to be defamatory towards the company and the individuals named), caution of approach in even the most preliminary investigation was bound to be required, together with legal circumspection on what the Lab might or could say. This is further compounded by the fact the Medium piece brings together numerous different claims and allegations, some of which are perhaps easier to verify (e.g. issues within the Marketplace), others of which are not (including obtaining some veracity concerning the author of the piece, particularly given its pseudonymous nature²). Ergo, any investigation, either preliminary or in-depth, would / will take weeks (even months) to complete.

Nor, frankly, should there be any expectation that – given a statement has now been made – that the results of any investigation will be publicly disclosed in full once completed. There may well be legal or other ramifications which preclude this from happening.

That said, I do welcome the statement by Mr. Oberwager; it actually speaks well of the company that as soon as they have been in a position to respond to user sentiment on the matter, they have done so, and through the voice of their owner .

Footnotes

  1. At the time of writing this piece, the article in question has been found in violation of Medium’s rules of publication, and is subject to further investigation, and thus suspended from being viewed.
  2. The Medium piece was published under the account name “dantesedmond1844”.This appears to be a intentional reference to Edmond Dantès, the protagonist in Alexander Dumas’ 1844 novel of revenge / vengeance, The Count of Monte Cristo. Which, given the overall nature of the article, to me would appear to be a very curiously coincidental choice of account name (or possibly a contextual choice).

Note: as this piece is related to an on-going investigation onto an article containing unproven (and potentially questionable) allegations against specific individuals, it is requested than any comments offered in response to this piece forgo naming or otherwise discussing those individuals.