VIRTUAL AVATAR AUTHENTICATION

In one general embodiment, a method for determining a controlling entity of a first avatar in a virtual world includes: receiving a request for access to a resource via a first avatar; providing a challenge to the first avatar in response to receiving the request; receiving a challenge response via the first avatar in response to the challenge; determining an identity confidence level based on the challenge response; making an identity determination for a controlling entity of the first avatar based on the identity confidence level; and providing or denying access to the resource based on the identity determination.