The road not taken: what is the future of metaverse? | IGF 2023 Networking Session #65

Knowledge Graph of Debate

Session report

Audience

The discussion revolved around various significant issues concerning the metaverse. One key point raised was the presence of structural disadvantages in the adoption of metaverse enabling technologies. It was pointed out that these technologies are primarily developed in countries with high rates of IT development, placing developing countries at a disadvantage. It was acknowledged that developing nations need to catch up to match the level of technological sovereignty and metaverse connectivity that Western countries have achieved.

The importance of regulation for the metaverse was heavily emphasized. Regulation was seen as crucial for ensuring the value proposition and continuous growth of the metaverse. It was noted that the development of digital platforms has been accelerated by COVID-19 pandemic. However, concerns were raised regarding the need to address standardisation and interoperability issues, as well as regulatory challenges associated with generative AI. These challenges underscored the necessity of effective regulation to navigate and address the complexities of the metaverse.

The absence of regulation for current metaverse and IT companies was highlighted as a concerning issue. It was noted that these companies operate without specific jurisdiction, leading to a lack of understanding regarding their regulatory framework. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether metaverse companies should offer digital citizenship, further complicating the regulatory landscape. The need to establish clear regulations and frameworks for metaverse and IT companies was deemed essential to mitigate potential risks and ensure accountability.

Privacy and jurisdiction concerns were also brought to attention. It was argued that digital citizenship in the metaverse raises questions regarding privacy and jurisdiction, demanding robust resolution. The implications of privacy, jurisdiction, and applicable law in the metaverse need to be properly addressed to foster the safe and secure environment for users.

On a positive note, it was mentioned that there is existing legislation that can be applied to the metaverse, depending on the specific use case. Examples of existing regulations include those governing personal data, digital identities, electronic signatures, and payment interoperability standards. It was also noted that the hosting of personal data, whether in the metaverse or not, is governed by certain regulations. This recognition of existing legislation provided a ray of hope in terms of navigating the regulatory landscape of the metaverse.

The discussion also delved into the concerns surrounding the conflation of religious beliefs and technological advancements. It was highlighted that this can potentially challenge the structure of human personality. The importance of distinguishing the real world from the virtual world and the potential dangers of blending religious dogmas with technology were emphasised.

Technical challenges were also addressed during the discussion. It was mentioned that one potential bottleneck limiting the growth of the metaverse is lag or delay in connections. This issue needs to be properly addressed to ensure smooth and seamless user experiences within the metaverse.

The topic of regulation for safety was explored, with an emphasis on the limitations of relying solely on regulation. It was argued that regulation is often influenced by lobbying and tends to be abstract, while violations are concrete and precise. This highlighted the need to find a balance between regulation and direct accountability to ensure a safe environment within the metaverse.

The importance of holding platforms accountable was also emphasised. It was noted that technology plays a crucial role in collecting evidence, studying algorithms, and monitoring platform behaviour to effectively hold platforms accountable. This recognition highlighted the significance of technological advancements in ensuring platform accountability.

There were also specific discussions related to user experience and feedback. It was underscored that user experience is crucial and that having an individual log can be beneficial for both users and providers. User feedback was seen as essential for improving the metaverse and enhancing the overall user experience. The value of user feedback and the potential for using individual logs for accountability purposes were highlighted.

Other noteworthy observations included concerns about data collection and utilisation in the crypto metaverse, as well as the preference for quicker onboarding processes that do not gather excessive user data. Additionally, the abundance of digital assets generated by generative AI in the metaverse was seen as a potential threat to their value. It was estimated that the metaverse could be worth $5 trillion by 2030, but the abundance of digital assets could decrease their value.

In conclusion, the discussion surrounding the metaverse touched on a wide range of issues. It brought attention to the need to address structural disadvantages in technology adoption, regulate the metaverse to ensure its value proposition and continuous growth, resolve privacy and jurisdiction concerns, and distinguish the real world from the virtual world. Existing legislation was acknowledged as a potential framework for regulation, while technical challenges and user feedback were highlighted as important factors in the metaverse’s development. The discussion also raised concerns about data collection, asset value, and the impact of blending religious beliefs with technological advancements. Overall, the in-depth exploration of these various issues shed light on the complexities and considerations surrounding the metaverse.

Vakhtang Kipshidze

The Russian Orthodox Church recognizes the existence of the metaverse but asserts that it is a man-made and imperfect world that imitates God’s perfect creation. Vakhtang Kipshidze, a representative of the Church, shares this view and emphasizes that the metaverse is a human creation seeking perfection.

Kipshidze expresses concern about the metaverse becoming entirely secular, excluding religious values. He advocates for integrating religious values into metaverses to counteract religious exclusion and ensure inclusivity. This promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions within virtual worlds.

Kipshidze also raises concerns about the relationship between privacy and freedom in the metaverse. He highlights the close tie between privacy and freedom, warning that violating privacy in virtual environments can lead to a loss of individual freedom. It is crucial to establish privacy protections to safeguard personal freedoms in the metaverse.

Moreover, Kipshidze discusses the challenge of translating human encounters to the virtual realm. He argues that values like love may not have the same impact in virtual interactions as in face-to-face experiences within families and religious communities. Careful thought and consideration are needed to nurture important values in the metaverse.

Furthermore, Kipshidze expresses worry about the potential negative consequences of excessive immersion in the virtual world of metaverses. He believes that obsession with the metaverse can harm individual freedom and overall well-being. Balance and moderation are essential when engaging with virtual platforms.

Additionally, Kipshidze cautions against mixing religious and technological issues, such as digital immortality. He believes that combining religious and non-religious elements in virtual spaces could endanger the structure of human personality. This raises questions about the impacts of merging religious and technological concepts within the metaverse.

Finally, Kipshidze emphasizes the significance of distinguishing between the real world and the virtual world. He sees the issue of immortality as a challenge in differentiating the two realms. Bringing religious dogmas into the realm of technology should be avoided. Critical thinking and discernment are necessary when navigating the virtual landscape.

In summary, Vakhtang Kipshidze’s perspectives shed light on various aspects of the metaverse. The Russian Orthodox Church recognizes the metaverse as a man-made and imperfect creation. Kipshidze’s concerns and recommendations revolve around integrating religious values, protecting privacy and freedom, nurturing important values, avoiding obsession with the virtual world, and maintaining a distinction between the real and virtual realms. These insights contribute to the ongoing discussion on the implications and impact of metaverses in society.

Alina

Regulating the metaverse, a virtual reality space where users interact with computer-generated environments and others, poses complex challenges due to jurisdictional uncertainty and the potential for companies falling under multiple jurisdictions. The metaverse operates globally, making it difficult to determine which laws and regulations should apply. This issue is further complicated by conflicting laws on technology, privacy, and security in different countries. Finding a consensus on metaverse regulation becomes a formidable task.

An important concern for regulation is the standardization process and interoperability. As the metaverse evolves, establishing common standards and protocols is crucial for seamless integration and communication between platforms and virtual worlds. This ensures consistent experiences for users across different environments. However, achieving standardization is complex and necessitates collaboration among stakeholders.

On a positive note, the metaverse holds the potential for digital immortality. Avatars in the metaverse can learn and mimic real-life individuals, allowing their existence to continue even after their physical demise. This raises philosophical questions about identity and ethical considerations regarding creating digital replicas of deceased individuals.

Additionally, the concept of a digital state and digital citizenship is emerging within the metaverse. Individuals can have a presence in multiple metaverses, similar to having dual or multiple citizenship in the physical world. This concept offers intriguing possibilities such as digital societies and rights and responsibilities for digital citizens. However, it also raises concerns about governance, accountability, and potential inequality or exclusion within virtual communities.

In conclusion, regulating the metaverse is complex due to challenges related to jurisdiction, standardization, and interoperability. The metaverse offers potential for digital immortality through avatar preservation and the emergence of digital states and citizenship. While these advancements present exciting opportunities, they also require careful consideration of ethical and societal implications. Policymakers, industry leaders, and society as a whole must collaborate to shape the metaverse’s future while maximizing its benefits and mitigating risks.

Daniil Mazurin

AI plays a crucial role in the development of metaverses, as demonstrated by the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into our daily lives. With over 180 million monthly users, ChatGPT showcases the widespread adoption of AI technology. The current metaverses built by companies like Meta or in the blockchain space, such as Sandbox or Decentraland, are unlikely to achieve mass adoption. This highlights the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed for metaverses to become widely accessible and appealing to the general public. The ideal metaverse should combine real-life experiences, virtual worlds, augmented reality (AR), and AI technologies. Meta’s Rayban AR glasses exemplify a product that integrates the metaverse into society by blending the virtual world with our physical reality. Proper regulation is essential to govern innovative technologies like the metaverse. Lessons from the crypto industry emphasize the importance of regulating such industries to ensure compliance with legal and ethical boundaries. The development and expansion of the metaverse face challenges related to processors and software technologies like Unreal Engine and Unity Engine. Powerful processing capacities are required for advanced virtual worlds, and accessing such metaverses without appropriate devices can result in a subpar experience. Effective user onboarding and verification processes are crucial for enhancing user interaction and platform security. However, concerns regarding privacy and data misuse arise when considering user data management. Addressing these concerns is integral to maintaining user trust and safeguarding personal information. In an ideal metaverse, digital assets should have a limited supply. This scarcity contributes to the creation of demand and enhances the value and ownership experience within the metaverse. Additionally, generative AI can be used by artists to enhance their artwork, rather than replacing them entirely. Furthermore, AI can be utilized to create digital immortality, where AI systems simulate deceased loved ones. This technology allows individuals to continue communicating with their loved ones even after their passing. However, acceptance and implementation may depend on religious and moral considerations. In summary, AI plays a significant role in metaverse development, manifesting in the integration of ChatGPT into our daily lives. However, current metaverses face challenges in achieving mass adoption. The ideal metaverse merges real-life experiences, virtual worlds, AR, and AI technologies. Proper regulation is necessary to balance innovation and mitigate risks. Advancements in processors and software technologies are essential for metaverse expansion. User onboarding and verification are critical for user interaction and platform security, but privacy concerns must be addressed. Scarcity of digital assets and the use of AI for digital immortality can enhance the metaverse experience.

Moderator

The analysis provides insights into various arguments and perspectives surrounding metaverse technology. One argument emphasises the importance of considering values and preserving freedom in the metaverse. It highlights that religious communities should be included in discussions about metaverse technology, as sometimes the metaverse can undermine religious values. The analysis suggests that the preservation of privacy in the metaverse can ensure the protection of freedom. However, it also cautions that an excessive obsession with the metaverse can have detrimental effects on freedom.

Another viewpoint discusses the opportunities and threats posed by metaverse technology. It acknowledges the potential for the metaverse to be utilised for educational and healthcare purposes, which can contribute to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). However, the analysis also recognises the potential for crimes and abuse in the metaverse, raising concerns about safety and ethics. It references a report from the Center for Global IT Cooperation, which provides analytical insights into the metaverse’s impact.

Additionally, the analysis raises concerns about the potential structural disadvantages of metaverse technologies for developing countries. It points out that most metaverse technologies are developed in high IT development countries, primarily in Western Europe, leaving developing countries at a disadvantage due to technological limitations. This observation aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), advocating for more inclusive development and support for developing countries in adopting metaverse technologies.

Furthermore, the analysis advocates for the active involvement and regulation of metaverse technologies by the governments of developing countries. It argues that developing countries should prioritize the regulation of innovation to effectively navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the metaverse. This viewpoint aligns primarily with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and emphasizes the importance of government intervention for equitable development.

Lastly, the analysis stresses the necessity for audience engagement and idea sharing. It highlights the value of encouraging the audience to actively participate by raising their hand, sharing ideas, or asking questions. This perspective aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnership to fully realize the benefits of metaverse technology.

In conclusion, the analysis of metaverse technology presents a diverse range of arguments and perspectives. It underscores the need to consider values and preserve freedom in the metaverse, highlights the opportunities and threats posed by metaverse technology, raises concerns about the potential structural disadvantages faced by developing countries, advocates for government involvement and regulation, and stresses the importance of audience engagement and idea sharing. Overall, this analysis offers valuable insights into the complex nature of metaverse technology and its implications for various stakeholders.

Speakers