EU Metaverse Policy Needs Reworking to Include Discrimination Laws, Safety Policies & Data Controls

Byline: Hannah Parker

A senior member of the European Commission stated on February 24, 2023, that when deciding how to govern the Metaverse, the European Union must consider issues like non-discrimination, user safety, and data privacy.

The EU’s executive arm is preparing to lay out its strategy on virtual worlds in a policy document due in May 2023. The union wants to avoid errors it claims were made with internet policy in the past.

Here’s what’s happened with the EU Metaverse Policy and why it needs to be changed.

The EU Metaverse Policy

Many people believe that the Metaverse — more than just a parallel reality made up of virtual places where users can communicate and work — is the internet’s future and has the power to affect day-to-day reality.

Margrethe Vestager, a Danish politician, mentioned that “The Metaverse is here already. So of course we start analysing what will be the role of a regulator and what is the role of our legislature. Everything we do must be fact-based and based on the information that we can get… We need to understand it before we can decide what actions would be appropriate.”

The investments being made by industry heavyweights like Facebook and Microsoft should prompt us to pause and consider the potential of this young, rapidly growing industry, which could soon not only increase the economic impact of decentralised finance with the rise of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens but also cause significant changes in everyone’s lives in Europe.

As stated in President von der Leyen’s letter of intent for his State of the Union address, he drew on some of the major challenges we face in the Metaverse.

A Need for the EU to Amend Its Metaverse Policy

Regardless of the EU’s efforts to regulate and protect investors and cooperations in the Metaverse Policy, they must ensure their efforts are all-encompassing, leaving no room for loopholes or floodgates of any issues, which is why there is a pressing need for change in the existing policy.

Yvo Volman, the Director of Data at the European Commission’s Digital Department, mentioned at an event hosted by the Commission in Brussels, “We want to make sure that the developments that we see in virtual worlds are fully in line with our European values from the outset – values such as inclusion, respect of privacy, non-discrimination and equality,”

He elaborated, “We have to make sure that people feel safe in virtual worlds, as safe as in the real world or perhaps even safer. We need to ensure people have the right skills and tools to protect their assets in virtual worlds – their data.”

Recent developments in the EU’s regulatory framework aim to limit the dominance of large businesses like Google and Amazon in the online market, also known as sweeping regulations, where the tech giants could face fines as high as 20% of their turnover. This is to allow fairer competition from smaller names in the market.

Volman stated, “We need to get it right from the start. We need to avoid some mistakes that we perhaps have made with the advent of the internet.”

The powerful antitrust division of the commission’s officials has already voiced concern that similar issues could arise in Web3, such as from Facebook, which has changed its name to Meta Platforms to establish its own virtual reality space online.

Volman mentioned possible advantages of the Metaverse, like online medical care or schooling, but he mentions that “we also have to tackle the downsides,”

Why Discrimination Laws, Safety Policies & Data Control are Needed in a Metaverse Policy

Metaverse experts at Bitcoin Apex say that any Metaverse policy framework must include data control, safety regulations, and discrimination statutes for several reasons.

First, anti-discrimination regulations are necessary to guarantee that Metaverse users do not experience discrimination based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other personal traits. Any type of social interaction, including those that happen in virtual environments, should be free from discrimination. Policymakers for the Metaverse can contribute to ensuring that all users are handled fairly and with respect by enacting strict anti-discrimination laws.

Second, safety regulations are essential for safeguarding users and establishing a safe atmosphere for everyone. The Metaverse is subject to the same risks of cyberbullying, harassment, and other online mistreatment as any other online platform. Policymakers can prevent and address these problems by creating robust safety policies and fostering a secure and friendly environment for all users.

Data control methods are crucial to protect user privacy and their personal information from misuse or unauthorised access. Data security is crucial because the Metaverse is highly dependent on data to operate. Policymakers can contribute to ensuring that users’ confidential information is protected and that they have control over how it is used by putting strict data control measures into place.

The EU must update its policy framework as the Metaverse continues to develop quickly to guarantee that issues like discrimination, safety, and data control are appropriately addressed. The Metaverse has the potential to offer both people and companies new and exciting opportunities, but this shouldn’t come at the expense of fundamental human rights and safety. The EU can contribute to creating a Metaverse that is inclusive, equitable, and secure for all users by putting into place strong policies that safeguard users from prejudice and ensure their safety while upholding stringent data control measures. Policymakers must act immediately to guarantee that the Metaverse is built on a solid foundation of safety and respect for human rights, both now and in the future.