Ethical Issues, Challenges and Solutions in Metaverse and Web3

About this Research Topic

Background

In the digital age, the Web3 Metaverse is emerging as a new frontier of social and economic interaction, allowing people to create, connect and collaborate in previously impossible ways (J. Thomason & E. Ivwurie, 2023). Data is the new currency, mobile connectivity is the new road network, and online communities are the new villages. Smart-connected devices are the new tools, and AI-powered Avatars are the new workforce. In this digital world, more data points than ever will be collected, and the need for trust and confidence is paramount due to the vast amounts of increasingly personalised data collected. Underpinning this new data economy will be Web3, or the “Internet of Value,” which increasingly will operate in tandem with immersive Metaverse environments. There is much to understand as this world of the future unfolds. In particular, the digital world is confronting us with new ethical challenges, never previously encountered, and at an unimaginable scale. Data privacy, misuse, virtual crime, virtual states, avatar behaviour

The accelerated trend toward automation and digitalization, spurred by the pandemic, has intensified the focus on digital ethics. As sectors increasingly operate in virtual environments, there is a growing need to address the ethical implications of technological advancements. Organizations such as the World Economic Forum and AlgorithmWatch have highlighted the risks of a societal "techlash" due to mistrust in technology, while others like Nesta and The Ethics Centre have proposed frameworks to ensure ethical considerations are embedded in technological design and deployment.

To advance the conversation on digital ethics, this research topic will explore several key areas:

1. Impact on Society and ESG Integration: How can emerging technologies be designed and implemented to prioritize societal well-being, environmental sustainability, and alignment with ESG goals? This includes exploring the influence of new technologies like IoT, 5G, Web 3.0, and the Metaverse on education, employment, and social structures.

2. Ethical Framework Development: What are the essential components of a global ethics framework tailored for the digital age? This research would investigate how to develop and apply ethical standards that ensure technology is inclusive and addresses the issues it aims to solve.

3. Ethical Concerns in Data Handling: What are the ethical risks and implications associated with collecting, storing, and sharing personal data? Further research is needed to identify unconsidered ethical concerns and to inform the development of risk mitigation strategies.

4. User Interface and Comprehension: How do different digital features in user interfaces affect users' comprehension of material and their perception of voluntariness in providing digital consent? Understanding these factors can guide the creation of more ethical and user-friendly digital environments.

5. Global Digital Ethics Leadership: What role can ethically-driven leaders play in the creation and enforcement of global digital ethics standards? Research should explore the potential for leadership to influence the United Nations SDG agenda and contribute to the development of a Universal Code of Digital Ethics.

These research questions aim to guide the ongoing development of a global digital ethics ecosystem, ensuring that technology serves society in a responsible and sustainable manner. The integration of ethical principles into the design and implementation of emerging technologies is crucial for navigating the challenges of the digital era.

We're seeking submissions on ethical issues, challenges and solutions in the following key areas:

● Web3, Metaverse and AI

● Web3 and Identity Preservation

● Intersection of Web3, AI, IoT, and Wearables in immersive environments

● Application of digital twins

● Metaverse education

● Metaverse and Web3 gamification

● Metaverse and health care (cardiac, surgery, education, mental health, pharmacy)

● Web3 and decentralised science

● Approaches to Self-Sovereign Identity

● Use of NFTs as digital verification for KYC and credentials

● Improving accessibility, e.g., goggles; XR

● Architecture, functionalities, interfaces, intelligent management mechanisms, connectivity technologies, and ethical risks for infrastructure.

● Applications and services integration between virtual real worlds

● Requirements related to security and PII protection aspects, security of networks and technology underpinning the metaverse platform, including cybersecurity and identity management

● Personally identifiable information (PII) protection-related aspects, plus preventing online and offline harm and considering ethical issues and standards

● Data ownership and protection

● Digital asset ownership

● Issues of trustworthiness related to the metaverse

● Child online protection

● Ethical issues associated with IP, trademarks and copyright issues for Metaverse

● Ethical implications of metaverse for society and impact on the environment

● Metaverse Potential Market failures and Regulatory remedies

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Blockchain, Web3, Metaverse, Ethics, Digital Ethics, Avatars, Digital Twins, Extended Reality

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.