2022 Edition

The metaverse is a human rights dilemma. In this internet era, people relinquish their data and human rights without realizing the risks and consequences. Given the Metaverse will be “the next version of the Internet,” the talk will reflect on the existing challenges, as well as focus on the need for potential new rights. Session […]

The Metaverse is a growing network of virtual and augmented digital worlds that exist in parallel with the physical world. There is a lack of consensus around the baseline understanding of what Metaverse brings along wrt risks and opportunities. This talk is to create a common baseline understanding across a multidisciplinary audience. Session Video See […]

Companies of all stripes are racing to enter the metaverse, whether that means building experiences there, engaging in gaming, minting NFTs, or selling virtual goods. Research suggests that XR advertising can be up to 4x more effective than traditional formats. How far are we from the arrival of the Metaverse, and how should marketers utilize […]

Access to the Metaverse is highly dependent on close-to-the-body hardware such as headsets, hand devices, etc., capable of collecting involuntary biometric data with technologies like movement or eye-tracking. This scenario amplifies privacy, identity, autonomy, and human agency risks. Where is all of this going to lead us? Session Video See Video Summary The "Panel Discussion" […]

If we think of the Metaverse as the next paradigm shift for experience on the internet. From a social standpoint, the metaverse has the potential to offer more access and inclusivity across many boundaries. Still, it’s important to be mindful of the equally important possibility of exacerbating the digital divide, given the hardware and connectivity […]

There is a need for the international community to identify and critique the existing human rights frameworks to potentially enable a secure and interoperable Metaverse. The UN and Global governments have an important role to play in these technological developments, most importantly, virtual worlds infused with artificial intelligence and neuro technologies and studying their impact; […]

The interconnected and persistent nature of the metaverse will provide an unprecedented opportunity for connection across environments and devices. Central to users’ experiences will be safety, privacy, and inclusivity, fuelled by AI, enabling the ability to extend reality and traverse freely through virtual environments. One issue that needs particular consideration and will be the focus […]

Advances in artificial intelligence and, most especially, generative AI have been coming fast and furious. But what are the risks of this technology developing so quickly? What checks and balances are in place? How can we use AI for social good? How can we protect individuals and communities against its misuse? And what role will […]

We’ll be joined for an exciting announcement from the Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to taking on tough, persistent issues with the potential to drive massive change. Learn more about an opportunity for researchers, advocates, and other members of civil society from all over the world to propose and receive funding for projects related […]

The Metaverse epitomizes the human rights dilemma inherent in many emerging technologies. Technology is morally neutral, so how can we ensure that it is used for good and not evil? This talk will focus on how we can develop the metaverse to empower humanity and enhance our lives while avoiding becoming a digital dystopia that […]

Session Video

As we are increasingly plugged into virtual worlds, examining how these interactions affect us as human beings will become more important. This panel will examine how interactions in virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality may differ from those happening in the physical world and the effects that has on our brains. Session Video

“Building community” are the buzzwords of web3 and these communities are largely being built on web2 social media platforms. This panel will discuss effective community building strategies that focus on safety and security of members and how hard lessons learned in the past can inform future decisions. Session Video

The ability to own assets can change the relationship between individuals and corporations in online environments. This panel will examine the risks and benefits of moving to such a system and if consumers want to own and manage their assets, for example, in games and social media accounts. The implications of intellectual property law and […]

While the Metaverse provides a host of new opportunities and innovation springboards, it is already a space that is being explored by bad actors. What must Individuals and businesses do to ensure they are adequately protected as this next iteration of the internet evolves? Session Video

The Metaverse is a complexly emergent technical/social assemblage in the earliest stages of growth and adoption. Its evolution depends upon the mindsets and behaviors, hopes and fears of people all over the world. As such, this panel seeks to answer a simple question:  How should we study the Metaverse? How can we listen to the […]

Virtual influencers receive up to three times more engagement than traditional influencers. Brands are using them instead of corporate mascots. What effects might virtual influencers have on safety and mental health? Can virtual influencers be leveraged for good and where are we headed with the integrations of AI into virtual influencers? Session Video See Video […]

We’ll be joined for an exciting announcement from the Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to taking on tough, persistent issues with the potential to drive massive change. Learn more about an opportunity for researchers, advocates, and other members of civil society from all over the world to propose and receive funding for projects related […]

In the Metaverse, platforms will be able to profile your physical, emotional, and behavioral states in real-time, leading to unprecedented privacy concerns. At the same time, metaverse technologies are designed to fool your senses, which will enable dangerous new forms of fraud and deception, from predatory advertising to avatar identity theft. What are the risks […]

Metaverse technologies are rapidly growing in the consumer market, expanding audience demographics and including young people. What are the benefits for the new generations, and what are the possible risks? Session Video See Video Summary The opening keynote was delivered by Lori Trahan, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Trahan discussed the impact […]

The new virtual worlds represent public squares where children and adolescents can meet, exchange experiences, learn and have fun, regardless of their geographical boundaries and social limits. How do today’s virtual worlds present risks to young users, and what can we do to mitigate these? What are potential future threats to children in the Metaverse? […]

From ads to trolls to predators, virtual worlds offer anonymity and a lack of accountability for behaviors that target children. Social media has also fueled new avenues for IRL crimes, including bullying, violence, child pornography, sexual assault, and human trafficking. As the Metaverse aims to bring us closer together through fully-immersive experiences, children’s long-term cognitive, […]

The Metaverse promises to blur boundaries between reality & virtual worlds. Today, vulnerable populations, children & young adults, experience the most significant risks while navigating these environments.  Privacy, security & autonomy are critical to developing a child’s identity & sense of self.  How do we define Children’s Rights in the Metaverse, and how can we […]

When we refer to young individuals, it’s vital to anticipate the risks, each of which materializing can have a negative long-term impact, considering the native vulnerabilities of this age group. What are the possible countermeasures in line with guidelines, frameworks, and standards needed to advance this shift? Session Video See Video Summary The panel discussion […]

Should technology providers, parents, and educators share the responsibility of protecting young people? Are they the first line of defense against the risks of using Metaverse platforms? The panel will focus on how we can promote awareness about controls and mechanisms available to guardians and children for building an inclusive, safe and healthy Metaverse. Session […]

Since Metaverse might change the lives of the next generation, the perspectives of young people must be included in serious discussions about the future, such as Metaverse Safety Week. As the American children’s national arts organization and the world’s children’s global arts organization, the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) organizes international youth panels on critical […]

What do we need to do differently to build a safe Metaverse for Children? Larry Magid, the CEO of ConnectSafely, will provide a historical perspective on online safety. Larry will dive into what we’ve learned from 30 years of online safety and how it does and doesn’t apply to the Metaverse. Session Video See Video […]

Safeguarding the users of the digital and virtual worlds is of utmost importance in today’s world as the world becomes smaller and more people spend more and more time with unreal worlds that we create with today’s technology. Whether the parents, educators or community at large likes it or not, the teens and youth of […]

Now the metaverse is no longer science fiction it’s time to get serious about making it safe, especially for children. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has developed three core design principles to minimise harms and ensure transparency and accountability are built in. Session Video See Video Summary The keynote was titled "Back to the Future: Intentional Design […]

Not so far in the future, clinicians might prescribe a virtual beach vacation to ease aches and pains instead of prescribing another pill. Psychiatrists might treat social anxiety by inviting patients to a dinner party or reminiscing with Alzheimer patients in a replica of their childhood home. Hospitals might immerse children in fantastical playlands while […]

What do we know about immersive healthcare’s positives and negatives today? What are the least understood aspects of immersive healthcare? What do we need to care about? Session Video See Video Summary Here are some of the main ideas and insights discussed during the "panel": The use of immersive healthcare technology has increased due to […]

Simulation and immersive technologies are revolutionizing health and care education, growing in popularity across all sectors and disciplines, and offering different ways of supporting and engaging with learners. Health Education England has been collaborating with XRSI’s Medical XR Council & several key MXR stakeholders to build baseline standards for this emerging field. The panel will […]

The healthcare industry faces various challenges, including an aging population, scarce and imbalanced medical resources, and excessive growth in medical expenses. Does Blockchain have the potential to improve the lives of patients? Key aspects of the interview will include: Session Video See Video Summary During the "Fireside Chat", the speakers discussed the potential impact of […]

The new role of clinicians, nurses, researchers, and hospitals delivering medical care. Session Video See Video Summary The fireside chat titled "Patient Health and Safety: How will immersive healthcare infrastructure transform patient care?" was conducted on December 14, 2022, during the Metaverse Safety Week. The discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges of immersive healthcare, […]

A factual analysis and report based on recent research. What do we know, and what are the unanswered questions as we prepare for healthcare in the Metaverse? Session Video See Video Summary Max Kreisler Harberg's keynote at the Metaverse Safety Week discussed the current realities of immersive healthcare technologies and their potential impact on the […]

American legal context to protect healthcare data is covered by HIPAA, which hasn’t been updated since 2003. While most of the world either faces worse legal privacy conditions or suffers from lack of data protections, Europe has recently expanded the definition of “Sensitive data” to include health inferences. As the Metaverse evolves, and America grapples […]

A multidisciplinary discussion among the academic researchers, doctors and technology professionals to investigate ethical challenges of using virtual environments and devices in various Medical XR use cases along with potential solutions.

Before the Metaverse officially arrives, we need to shift our mindsets from the individual to the collective and look at space as a common good. It is imperative that governments ensure that this new space industry meets the needs of everyone, not just those who can afford it. How are governments planning to onboard citizens […]

While the Metaverse concept and technologies are still in their infancy, the transition from an interactive to an immersive digital world may have far-reaching impacts on social division, societal resilience, disinformation-driven violence, and potential new vulnerabilities to hybrid attacks by state actors. How can we ensure that the Metaverse will not be weaponized? How can […]

The Metaverse may be a concept long familiar to technologists, but it’s only recently been recognized as anything close to a household name. The Metaverse will change the way people and businesses communicate, and operate. The Metaverse will be built on products that will produce difficult trade-offs between accessibility, interoperability, privacy, safety and security. Metaverse […]

The Metaverse promises to bring new levels of social connection, mobility, and collaboration to a world of virtual work. Are the promises empty, or are organizations changing how they work as a result of the Metaverse? Session Video See Video Summary The panel discussion focused on the theme of "Policy, Trust, and Governance" in the […]

The Metaverse will have consequential levels of impact on human behavior. But amongst the opportunities that the Metaverse will provide, there are many risks that could translate into harms. Given what’s at stake, do we need to provide education and onboard citizens? What lessons can we learn from the internet era? Session Video See Video […]

While the pace of Metaverse is debatable and adoption is difficult to predict, we know that it is coming. With the Metaverse will come the need for corporations to better govern various aspects of their participation in the Metaverse. Undoubtedly the evolution will affect internal processes, business dealings, case strategy, and more. Session Video See […]

We’ve all heard of sexual assaults and negative experiences in VR. As we evolve towards the Metaverse, we will need real-world controls to protect users from fraud, abuse, and loss. Regulation takes time and is difficult to apply globally. A panel discussion on what it takes to make the metaverse a viable place to live […]

XR technologies aren’t new, but how we interact with them has changed rapidly within the last several years. As businesses compete for supremacy in this space, the landscape of these new innovations has become confusing and uncertain for many. In this context, our technical ecosystem and lifecycle need to change. Session Video

Other fields of science in our physical reality have decades and centuries of provenance and study. Astrophysics, physics, biology, and numerous other fields already have cosmologies, ontologies, and taxonomies related to them. But, this new reality in which humans are existing has none of these trappings. How are we to navigate this new meta-reality without […]

“Thank you” session with key stakeholders and keynote by Kavya Pearlman on the future of XRSI Session Video