Extended Reality (“XR”), including virtual reality (“VR”) and augmented reality (“AR”), revolutionizes digital interactions across gaming, healthcare, education, and e-commerce. Its benefits include immersive training, advanced surgical procedures, and enhanced public engagement. XR’s ability to visualize data aids decision-making in various sectors.
Despite these advantages, XR presents significant risks. Users face harassment, physical injuries, and psychological impacts such as body dysmorphia and trauma. Privacy concerns arise from the extensive data collected by XR devices, which can lead to surveillance and profiling. Misinformation and addiction, particularly in gaming and social media, pose further challenges.
Global regulatory responses vary, with the U.S. and E.U. taking different approaches. U.S. regulations address privacy and child safety but lack comprehensive XR-specific laws. The E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and Digital Services Act provide broader frameworks. The article calls for nuanced regulations to address XR’s unique challenges, emphasizing privacy protections, content moderation, child safety, and continued research.
Overall, balancing XR’s benefits with effective regulations is crucial to ensuring its safe and beneficial development for all users.