Ethical Issues, Challenges and Solutions in Metaverse and Web3

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
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... 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
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic 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.