Children in the Metaverse: A New Era of Vulnerability
The metaverse, with its immersive and interactive environments, holds immense potential for education, creativity, and social connection. However, for children, this frontier presents a unique and concerning set of vulnerabilities that demand our immediate attention. As legal and privacy professionals, we are tasked with safeguarding these young users in a space that often blurs the lines between reality and simulation. The Distinctive Dangers Heightened Data Collection: The very nature of VR/AR devices necessitates the collection of extensive biometric data. Eye tracking, head movements, and even subtle changes in pupil dilation are recorded, creating a highly detailed profile. Children are less likely to understand privacy policies and provide informed consent regarding their data collection. This creates a significant risk of data exploitation and misuse. This data can be exploited, as shown by concerns raised about data collection practices in some VR social platforms, where u...