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The privacy challenges facing the Metaverse

There is still a long way to go before the metaverse becomes a reality but what is already known is that it will clearly mean a before and after in terms of data protection and user privacy is concerned. In the same way that has already happened in mobile apps or in the 2.0 world of ‘social media’, which created the indisputable need to create the GDPR, General Data Protection Regulation in the European Unionthe arrival of this new cybernetic reality will also be a critical moment in the security of the intimate and personal information of its future consumers.

Metaverse vs. Data Protection

The very technological nature of the metaverse must be taken into account, since It is fundamentally based on the capture and registration of dozens of biometric datapersonal information that the current RGPD itself considers highly sensitive: they are used solely and exclusively for the identification of a person through computerized and automated means.

But beyond biometric data, such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanning or advanced neural information records, the metaverse focuses primarily on its users’ own activity and all their interactions. This is where a first challenge arises: if it were considered that part of the collection and processing of said information was necessary for the proper functioning of the metaverse, it would be left the door quite open to the collection of private data and metadata without the user having real control about them. And, as is already the case today on current websites or social networks, those who would benefit from this succulent information provided almost unconsciously by the user of the metaverse would be the big technology companies.

Companies, data protection and the metaverse

Any company that has a commercial vision will want to be the first in the metaverseto have presence, visibility and thus interact with their own workers or clients, but although it is an exciting virtual world different from the real one as well it will be important that you strictly comply with the data protection policies current and future:

Knowing the current laws and regulations regarding data protection will not be enough, since they will have to be aware of the imminent irruption of the new Digital Services Law, currently under development. And it is that although the metaverse, by its very nature, will not have a real physical location, the processing and treatment of the data collected will have one: that of the user’s country and the regulations on privacy of personal information that exist there .

If the company in question plans to use biometric data of clients or workers with whom you interact in this world that is still so difficult to understand, the metaversemust strictly comply with the express consent of said users, which by the way will have to be renewed periodically and voluntarily by the interested party.

Cryptocurrencies, another great challenge

Both the innovative and intangible cryptocurrencies like other crypto assets, NFTs are an example, they are another great challenge for countries and international legislation on data protection, since it is expected that one of the most common activities in the metaverse will be economic transactions carried out with these famous virtual currencies.

With the law in the current hand of any countryin this matter the metaverse is so far ahead of the regulations that, without a doubt, would escape the control of governments and, also, to the tax requirements of any public administration. Cast that in Spain and the European Union there are already legislative advances in this regard, especially in relation to money laundering, but it is still not enough.

It is clear that the metaverse is going to be the next big thing in internet history after the emergence of social networks a few years ago, but it is also true that public administrations and regulations on the protection of personal and private data have to be updated and take more into account the new forms of registration such as, fundamentally, biometric data: Second life will consolidate them.

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