Report reveals increasing risks to privacy
NYU Stern’s Center for Business and Human Rights is emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive privacy law as it warns of significant privacy risks in the rapidly growing metaverse.
While the metaverse offers numerous benefits, it also presents “unprecedented” dangers such as the potential erosion of privacy and the spread of abuse in virtual environments.
A report from NYU’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights highlights the potential for profound and long-lasting psychological harm resulting from experiences in virtual reality (VR).
The report points out that the primary concern lies not in how emerging devices like VR headsets function, but rather in how they utilize the data collected from users. Recent research conducted by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and Unanimous AI reveals that even basic VR headsets with motion trackers can gather extensive data about users, including their identity, demographic characteristics, and even their health.
In addition to privacy issues, lawless virtual spaces present unlimited opportunities for abusers. The report claims that even physical assaults in the metaverse can cause psychological harm, as individuals immersed in a VR world often perceive their experiences as real.
Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat, a policy advisor on technology and law at NYU Stern’s CBHR, conducted research on the metaverse and concluded that current versions of the metaverse are largely underdeveloped. Rosenblat notes that Meta’s Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences is “ambiguous and incomplete.”
The report suggests that Congress should pass a comprehensive privacy law to safeguard consumer privacy and restrict the use of body-based data. It also urges the government to strengthen the Federal Trade Commission’s authority in protecting consumers against unfair and deceptive practices by technology companies and establish a federal entity dedicated to this purpose.
Meta, on the other hand, sees no reason to halt the development of its metaverse. On September 14, the Menlo Park-based social media giant announced that Horizon Worlds, its collaborative VR platform, will be available on mobile devices and the web in early access.
Meanwhile, Meta has launched a new program for educators in the United States to encourage students to explore the possibilities of the metaverse. The company is actively collaborating with 15 U.S. universities that are embracing immersive learning, including Stanford University, Arizona State University, New Mexico State University, and others.
