Metaverse Growth Brings New Data Protection Headaches

When we hear the word “metaverse,” we may first picture Zuckerberg’s somewhat cringey, uncanny valley-esque virtual world that many of us don’t take seriously.

Despite this, the metaverse has been growing into a beast, beginning to impact every aspect of life from schooling to healthcare, and even entertainment. Merging the physical and digital realities through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) spells out a world of possibilities. But famously, regulation and protection lag far behind tech innovation, so how do we protect our data in a virtual world that collects more information than ever?

Ready Player… 7 Billion?

The metaverse has a lot of promise, no matter how we feel about it. Ready Player One, Ernest Cline’s famous novel and subsequent film about a future based in the virtual world, might leave you either excited for or dreading the seemingly inevitable implementation of this virtual landscape. It will affect all of us and have a lasting and valuable impact as we each step into it.

• Virtual learning is not only beneficial for students with mobility issues, but also those with no easy access to a quality school. There are even programs to help adult learners both catch up and get ahead.
• Trusting in metaverse healthcare may seem risky, but there are many great options from remote consultations to surgery assistance that have already been proven to be effective and safe.
• The virtual workspace offers a wide range of applications. Architecture, design, and construction enter a world of new possibilities with the ability to experience and understand their spaces before they actually exist. Combining building information modeling (BIM) with VR has already brought this to life. And imagine being able to have a client interact with a product virtually to help secure a sale; Renault has even offered VR showroom experiences to test out various models and customization options.
• And don’t forget the fun one: gaming. There are plenty of leisure activities to be enjoyed in the space, from socializing to co-op gaming, virtual tours, wellness, and fitness.

What Fuels the Monster

But what do we need for all of that to run at its best capacity? Data. A lot of it. Imagine health data, location tracking, personal habits, workplace information, social patterns, and more all in one place. It won’t be a surprise when the wolves come.

Finding Our Vulnerabilities

There are two main types of security concerns related to an expansion of metaverse activities:

1. Large Data Breaches

Breach after breach… hacks and attacks leave many feeling powerless when it comes to security, and the metaverse will only increase those fears. Data breaches in this sphere could mean more than identity theft or stolen bank information; it could mean access to the most intimate patterns of a user’s life. Sensitive biometric data and biometrically inferred data, information inferred from behavioral, physical, and psychological methods are on the collection list; a leak of this type of data could be devastating.

2. Targeted Attacks

Aside from large-scale data mining, there are also individual concerns to consider. The metaverse environment only provides more opportunities for bullying and harassment. An “I’ll do what I want here” attitude has already led to sexual harassment, and because of the life-like experience in the metaverse, it can even feel like the attacks are happening in real life. Attackers can zone in on a single user, based on their location, activities, or even how their avatar looks. The University of Chicago discovered a security vulnerability that let hackers access sensitive information and even hijack the VR headsets themselves. So it’s no surprise that the Cyberbullying Research Center is particularly concerned about the risks that this poses to children.

Taking Control of Security

The risks are clear, but how do we guard our increasingly valuable digital data and assets? There are some important areas where we can take action now, but a lot of security solutions will be a longer fight. Here are some key ways to increase your protection:

1. Install parental control tools.

   Risks to children are especially worrying, so creating limitations is paramount. Parental supervision controls exist on many VR programs, and other AI programs can moderate conversations in real time.

2. Educate yourself and your loved ones. Have a candid conversation with those around you when the time comes for them to step into the metaverse.

3. Push for better regulation. Writing to your local representative or taking part in a cause group can help fight for timely regulation.

4. Choose the right programs. Developers also need to act in good faith, taking good care of our data; support those that use ethical data collection and storage.

5. Secure your accounts. Don’t forget important security measures. Even basics like using secure, unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and login alerts shouldn’t be left behind.

6. Secure your digital assets. Whether you’re into game skins or art, use best practices like buying on the blockchain or on a regulated marketplace to prevent easy theft.

A Brave New World

The metaverse is inevitable, and it’s already doing a lot of good. More people have access to quality healthcare, kids can receive quality education, and people everywhere can have access to exercise classes, new work opportunities, and unique leisure fun. It’s easy to cringe away from these risks, but the benefits could be life-altering for many users.

While it’s still growing, it’s up to us to fight for better regulation and master our data defense skills. Let’s face the metaverse with a healthy amount of caution and a generous amount of adventure, ready to take on all this new frontier has to offer.