The Metaverse as a potential threat to democracy: virtual world, real consequence
Mateusz Łabuz · Studia de Securitate. · 2023
The Metaverse, with its growing popularity, may significantly change the ways in which individuals and institutions use the Internet in the future. Several private companies and public institutions have already decided to open virtual headquarters to respond to the growing demand of customers. However, new opportunities are associated with many legal, social, and psychological challenges, and the problem of the extensive use of virtual reality must be considered in a multidimensional, interconnected way. The development of the Metaverse in the form proposed by the proponents of the new technology might lead to blurring of the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds. The potential transfer of a significant part of life to virtual reality requires pre‑emptive actions on the part of legislators and law enforcement authorities to prepare for the inevitable: the use of yet another channel of action for cybercrime. The aim of this article is to draw attention to the threats to democracy, security and privacy that might be associated with the development of the Metaverse and to discuss the ongoing national and international debates regarding the political and legal problems connected to the Metaverse. A careful analysis of both the threats and the debates allows for an informed response to the multidimensional challenges stemming from development of the Metaverse and helps to identify which institutions should play a key role in shaping this response.