NYU Stern’s Center for Business and Human Rights emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive privacy law, cautioning about significant privacy risks in the rapidly growing metaverse.
Despite the numerous advantages it offers, the next phase of the internet presents “unprecedented” dangers related to the “potential erosion of privacy” and the increase in abuse within virtual environments.
As per a detailed report from NYU’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights (CBHR), engagements in virtual reality (VR) could lead to profound and enduring psychological damage.
The primary concern highlighted in the report is not how new devices like VR headsets operate, but rather how they utilize the data collected from users. Recent studies by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and Unanimous AI have revealed that even a basic VR headset with a motion tracker can gather extensive data from users, such as their identity, demographic information, and even health details.
Apart from privacy concerns, lawless virtual spaces present endless opportunities for abusers. The report mentions that even physical assaults in the metaverse can have psychological repercussions, as individuals engrossed in a VR setting perceive the experience as real.
Research by Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat, a technology and law policy advisor at the NYU Stern CBHR, also indicates that current versions of the metaverse remain largely underdeveloped. Rosenblat points out that Meta’s Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences is vague and insufficient.
The report recommends that Congress enact a “comprehensive privacy law” to safeguard consumer privacy and restrict the utilization of body-based data. It also calls for strengthening the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to shield consumers from “unfair and deceptive practices by technology companies” and establishing a federal entity dedicated to this purpose.
Despite concerns raised, Meta sees no reason to halt the advancement of its metaverse. On September 14, the Menlo Park-based social media giant unveiled that Horizon Worlds, its collaborative VR platform, will be available on mobile devices and the web in early access.
Simultaneously, Meta unveiled a new initiative for educators in the U.S. to encourage students to explore the metaverse’s possibilities. The company is collaborating with 15 U.S. universities known for actively embracing immersive learning, including Stanford University, Arizona State University, New Mexico State University, among others.