Thought experiment:

Assume someday the VR sex-machine experience gets so good that pedophiles would prefer to have a virtual encounter with a child than a real one.

Should the software that generates these experiences be illegal to create? Own? Use?

Thoughtful answers requested in the comments section.

FAQ

Q: Children are still harmed even with a VR only encounter.

A: Assume that all the characters in the VR simulation are completely computer generated and synthetic. If this is the case, then who is hurt- and how?

Q: Having access to VR porn would stoke pedophiles to action and create more victims.

A: In this thought experiment we are stipulating that the VR porn is preferable to real life and would supplant it for some people. This is not a necessarily hypothetical conceit.

Q: Why would the software be illegal? It is just 1’s and 0’s.

A: Things can get legally non-intuitive around this issue.

Q: You sick fuck.

A: I am not a pedophile. Instead, I am interested in thinking and talking about ways to potentially reduce or eliminate the harm that they do.