Risks and opportunities of the metaverse

McIntosh, Verity; Catherine, Allen

Abstract

Expert memorandum prepared by Verity McIntosh and Catherine Allen, at the request of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, Parliamentary Authority of the Council of Europe.

The ‘metaverse’ represents a new frontier for digital technology. A step-change in the way that citizens can interact with information, with one other, and with civil society. As immersive tools such as
virtual and augmented reality become more commonplace, a picture is starting to form of this next phase in our collective future. This report looks at key ways in which the metaverse is likely to impact
democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It seeks to offer insight into the many fantastic opportunities offered by these emerging technologies. It also examines some of the existing and future risks of the metaverse, and offers a series of recommendations intended to support positive decision making whilst mitigating risk.

• Report Type: Consultancy Report
• Online Publication Date: Aug 6, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 6, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 24, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12901668
• Publisher URL: https://rm.coe.int/risks-and-opportunities-of-the-metaverse/1680af072c