Virtual Reality Training as a Form of “Copaganda”: Emerging Technology as a Panacea for the Problem of Police Brutality

Images of police brutality are often catalysts for police reform. The murder of George Floyd garnered increased scrutiny of the police. Consequently, many police leaders acknowledged that reform was inevitable and began to tout new technologies—such as virtual reality training (VRT) as a way to reduce incidents of police brutality. Critical criminologists assert that police brutality and racism are systemic and VR training is a form of copaganda—whereby police public relations and media outlets tout the technology as effective. Further, corporations, police agencies, and universities have formed multi-million-dollar partnerships that promote research that advances VRT as a meaningful type of police reform. As such, this chapter will provide a critical perspective on VR training while highlighting the concept of copaganda.