The Ethics of a New World

Have you considered the implications of the metaverse?

If the first wave of the web was mostly about one-way information sharing, and the second wave made it a platform for interaction, the new metaverse casts the web as a place unto itself where events and interactions can unfold entirely separate from the physical world. For some, it’s just a more powerful kind of interface. For others, it’s an entirely new place in which to play, work, interact, or even live.

?This hasn’t happened all at once; it’s a natural evolution of capabilities the web has built over time. Some of its earliest manifestations showed up in online gaming. But today—in both recreational and practical environments—technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other tools may create an extended reality. The hallmarks of this new “digital community” include more enhanced and seamless social and workplace interactions, decentralized physical and digital economic activity, and entertainment. At the same time, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other blockchain applications can spell the difference between sharing value over the internet and owning value that doesn’t exist anywhere but the internet.

?As we look to these likely futures, we should remember that the internet is for everyone – so it’s critical that its next evolution is built with an inclusive and ethical mindset that allows everyone to participate safely and equitably.

?As the web evolves, so do the implications for trustworthy and ethical behavior when people develop and use its tools. Low code and no-code solutions open up development to a wider audience, which may also widen the need for ethical guidelines for the creations and use of new applications. If you’ve come for a comprehensive guide to these new questions and their answers, there isn’t one. To protect and police themselves in the metaverse, perhaps the most important step people can take now is to pay close attention: to be aware of just how powerful this new environment is, how quickly its influences can multiply, and how frequently the world will likely contend with previously unanticipated ethical implications as a result.

?Through its Trustworthy and Ethical Technology practice, Deloitte focuses on understanding and addressing these concerns. Some of these are extensions of ethical implications that have parallels in earlier versions of the web. Others are new. The challenge today is not to craft definitive answers, but to keep asking questions—such as:

·??????When people interact more and more in the metaverse, how does that affect their social, emotional, and physical health?

·??????Who will the metaverse be built for? Will everyone have access to it?

·??????Who will shape the reality of the metaverse??

·??????Will the metaverse increase the digital divide? And how can we reduce it?

·??????How can we protect minors engaging in the metaverse?

·??????What is law enforcement or the legal system’s reach and responsibility in the metaverse? Can you libel a person who exists only in virtual space?

·??????What happens to rights in a virtual environment? Are avatars entitled to protections, remedies, and even courtesies that people expect in the physical world?

·??????What are the new boundaries and safeguards for securing private and sensitive information in a world made entirely of information, and built for the purpose of sharing it?

·??????What powers and responsibilities do private entities who “own” a metaverse environment have in that role? What regulations or protections should be created across the metaverse?

·??????What can be done to ensure fair, ethical, and safe payment systems in the metaverse?

·??????What will the carbon footprint of the metaverse be?

This is a frontier. Just as on the world’s physical boundaries, situations that require rules will continue to emerge side by side with regulations to address concerns—an intricate challenge that will be with us for some time to come.

Some of these new challenges could be variations or amplifications of ones people have dealt with before. What’s critical to realize, though, is that many of the ethical considerations in this space will be entirely new. What people and institutions can – and should – bring with them into this arena are the faculties that apply in every place and way humans interact: intelligence, vigilance, and a conscience. Those are the foundations on which a new world, and its safeguards, can rise.

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