The syncing of Metaverse & Personal Data: Navigating the privacy landscape!

Metaverse – is the next master stroke of Mark Zuckerburg and it’s a topic that warrants research, progress, and investments around the global arena. Virtual world i.e. metaverse – has a lot to offer – it could stand in $1 trillion in financial evaluations within the upcoming 3 years. Every business or individual entity is now gearing up to be a stakeholder or an innovative user of this virtual platform. 

BUT, as previous experiences have taught us when innovation can be a powerful tool for our good, it also has the potential to side-track us by creating multifaceted issues. Let’s dive into how metaverse fares with privacy concerns in this environment of pervasive surveillance of all digital data. 

You would be shocked to see the various digital types of data that are recorded in the metaverse:

• Physiological characteristics (Eye movements, or other body movement) 

• Biometric data 

• Inferred data (data is derived by analyzing different data points) 

• Geospatial data (data about physical locations, virtual movements of people, etc.) 

• Immersive and experience data (data about the collective feedback of the audience to AR, VR, and MR experiences) 

• Psychographic data (data about user’s preferences, personality traits, and behaviors) 

• Transactional data (any financial exchanges done through the platform)

While there are a plethora of meaningful reasons as to collecting this data, if not safeguarded – it may pose a major privacy concern. How? Keep on reading!

1. Pervasive surveillance

Metaverse is a platform where users interact with multiple entities across the globe. Playing, experimenting, and experiencing are all a part of the game. For example, AR and VR tech have the ability to personalize the experience based on the user’s emotional state or physiological revert. Surveillance of this sort can be beneficial but also harmful if used in the wrong direction without the user’s consent.

 A well-developed company that knows the metaverse inside out can help you configure the right privacy settings, teach you about limited data sharing, and adopt pseudonyms at the right time to avoid problematic oversharing of data.

2. Data Ownership

No matter what the real-time benefits of the metaverse are, the majority of the audience uses it as a way of concealing their real identities and creating a universe with their imaginary alter ego. This alter ego could be capable of many deeds, which when done virtually, can cause infinitely more harm than in the real world. 

To pinpoint the ownership of various digital assets, virtual property or in-game items is quite difficult. We surely cannot identify who owns what, but we surely can brace ourselves against possible threats in the metaverse. There are numerous IT companies that can help you set up your assets in a secure manner – to avoid digital mishaps.

3. User consent

Users share their without a care in the world, and the companies do not care about user consent before scrapping that data – this seems like an old story doesn’t it? You can either move out from the digital world OR get experts to set up smart consent mechanisms for you.

This process can assist you in avoiding the data scrapers snatching your personal details from your devices. Redefining how you set up a protective front for yourself, is the way in which you can redefine the meaning of user privacy in the metaverse! 

4. Monetization and Advertising

Metaverse, like the other platforms, will generate the majority of its revenue from the advertising programs and campaigns initiated by the audience. But these advertisements and online buying in the metaverse would only sound lucrative, till the boundaries of information sharing are not compromised. 

This line is the reason why users can search for products or services due to their preferences, and sellers can advertise without worry with a credible audience targeting system. It is essential to strike a balance between both these sides, to avoid instances of invasive targeting. 

5. Security & hacking

As the metaverse takes up our hearts and our devices, the growth of digital assets has grown exponentially! Virtual currencies, unique information, and personal data are all included here. The level of interconnectedness and interoperability makes the metaverse a fair game for all hackers and cyberattacks out there.

And we have all seen mission-impossible movies enough times to know that cyber attacks can be extremely devastating – as much as a nuclear one! 

Well, you cannot exorcise the demons out of those hackers, but you surely can get an expert to build a bulletproof firewall for yourself – which can definitely ward off those suspicious links and downloads with a smart and fireproof detection system. 

6. Regulatory Challenges

Metaverse, though it may be one platform, has rules according to different boundaries to which it expands. Data privacy laws as well as security mechanisms vary differently from one area to another. Therefore, Metaverse can face some challenges in protecting user data and ensuring consistent fortresses of privacy.

Well, laws related to privacy on an international level are pretty hard to change all at once, but we can surely enhance the data security from our end using blockchain technology and decentralized identity systems and not fall prey to these online hunters!

Want to create an armored metaverse world for yourself? Work with the experts!

Metaverse is as complex as it is lucrative and a metaverse amateur might not be able to work through the intricacies of this platform. Digital experts and IT professionals who have a good understanding of the Metaverse – help you streamline your online profile in a manner in which your personal data is locked and interactions are safeguarded.

Third-party intermediaries like WTSVerse can intervene if an individual or a business entity faces any issue in their metaverse experience. Overall, Metaverse can be used as a hugely profitable way to generate your revenue, but you gotta keep in mind the cons of Metaverse and act accordingly to create a digital fortress beforehand – as precaution is always better than a prescription!