Introduction
The metaverse is a three-dimensional virtual realm in which
users can partake in social connections as well as engage with their virtual
surroundings through the use of superior human-computer interface (HCI) technology.
If data privacy is a concern in today’s 2D, Web 2.0
environment, the embodied internet of the metaverse adds a new layer of
complexity to the equation. Users will engage with the metaverse via completely
new technologies.The mechanisms for collecting, storing, and utilizing data via
these systems have yet to be completely described. Furthermore, user privacy
may become a greater challenge in the metaverse. Hyper-realistic avatars, such
as the Codex avatars being created by Facebook, could let users to conceal their identities or even allow
youngsters to pose as adults.
Despite the fact that the term “metaverse” is not new, most
people are apprehensive about the consequences of this paradigm shift. Broadly,
the metaverse blurs the distinction between the real and the virtual on a
never-before-seen scale. Owing to the tracking capabilities of
virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology, the introduction of
the metaverse may be riskier for data privacy than conventional social media is
currently. The issues may be largely controllable, but unless
governments update regulations, platforms remain honest, and users advocate for
technologies that disguise data collection, particularly on physical reactions
such as eye movements.
Immersive Identification
Technological advances will syphon up data at an extremely granular level in immersive realms of individuals’ gaits, eye movements, emotions, and more, putting considerably greater demand on current safeguards. In the metaverse, privacy experts are raising the following concerns.
- The metaverse will be available via VR and AR, which firms may employ to monitor consumers’ bodily reactions to advertisements or other media.
- Anywhere and at any given moment, the way you gaze, move, and your pupil dilation are all providing developers with data. These could be utilized to build a user profile that reveals mental and subconscious states or health conditions even before an individual realizes it or seeks psychiatric or medical assistance.
In some cases, the data might be used to gently influence
consumers or, if disclosed to a third party, such as an insurance company,
could result in premium increases. Data privacy regulations need to be revised
to accommodate evolving technology and the privacy challenges and economic
opportunities that come with them.
Repercussions for Businesses in the Metaverse
- Consent mechanisms should be expanded as new data forms become available.
- When users engage with AI, users must be made aware.
- Businesses must self-regulate.
- Open monetization can significantly alleviate issues related to data exploitation.
- VR spaces must be designed with data security measures in place.
- Data privacy and user friendliness may be incompatible.
It is also worth noting that biometric data is classified
as personal data since it contains data capable of identifying a natural
person, which implies that all rights related to the use of personal data
apply. Such rights include the right of erasure, access, to be informed, data
portability and rectification, the right to object, to be informed, restrict
processing, and in relation to automated decisions and surveillance.
Efforts towards data privacy and protection in the metaverse
It is impossible to talk about the metaverse without
discussing Meta (formerly Facebook), which is attempting to transition into a
metaverse firm. However, Meta is well-known for alleged data breaches, for
which it has paid billions of dollars as penalties. Meta claims it has promised
$50 million to external researchers to work on platform security and privacy,
whereas its VR unit, Reality Labs, is giving its unique research awards. Given
that Meta has lately kept data from external researchers’ concealment, the
privacy sector will be keeping a careful check on the business.
It is encouraging to know that corporations are ready for
increased regulatory oversight in 2022 as EU and UK data privacy
and antitrust watchdogs interact. In 2021, joint policy measures between
antitrust and data protection regulators gained traction, with the goal of
cracking down on how huge corporations exploit private data. Some policymakers
advocate increased coordination between privacy and antitrust monitoring
organisations in order to limit business intelligence and data exploitation and
deter corporations from using user data to obtain an edge over competitors.
European authorities for data security, financial
markets, antitrust and media announced plans to share
expertise in AI, data processing, as well as other digital business
fields through their own expertise. The regulators stated that they will
investigate the possibility of cooperating on enforcement inquiries.Regulators
in Europe, the United States, and other places are recognizing that giant
internet corporations have grown in power and amassed massive amounts of data,
but legislation governing their activities has lagged.
The impending EU laws may increase the regulatory strain on
huge data-centric corporations. The draught digital markets act, which is
presently being negotiated in Congress, would impose obligations on large
digital corporations, such as requiring them to provide end users with data
portability. The law could be a watershed moment in terms of how internet
platforms are controlled. The increased interest in digital platforms among
European regulators is undoubtedly fueled by regular revelations of fresh
high-profile data breach cases. In June, the European data protection authority
will host a summit on the future of privacy enforcement in the hopes of
gathering responses from participants in order to establish a new platform for
digital governance that would include consumer protection, competition
and privacy advocacy groups.
The way forward
These efforts will lead to creating a secure,
privacy-conscious, and controlled metaverse for users.Other organisations
developing their own metaverse or hoping to engage in one must immediately
follow identical rules, even if the metaverse is more than a decade away.
By: Ms Sabrina
Bath
(Content Writer, WCSF)
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