In a move that could reshape the virtual landscape, China is reportedly working on integrating its controversial social credit system into the metaverse, aiming to establish a more controlled and secure environment.
A recent report from Politico reveals that China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company, has introduced a preliminary set of proposals to create a “Digital Identity System” within virtual worlds like the metaverse. The proposed system is intended to enhance safety and mitigate potential risks associated with online interactions.
According to the proposals, every user entering the metaverse would be required to have a unique “digital ID,” which would be linked to both their “natural” attributes and “social” characteristics. This digital ID would encompass real-life information, serving as a means to prevent malicious activities within the metaverse, such as fraud or harmful behavior.
These initial proposals were presented by China Mobile on July 5 during discussions with a focus group dedicated to exploring the possibilities and challenges of the metaverse.
The focus group, convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with communications and information technology, has embarked on discussions about the potential rules and regulations that could govern the metaverse.
The metaverse focus group is scheduled to reconvene in October to further deliberate on these proposals.
If the proposals receive approval, they could potentially exert a significant influence on major technology companies and establish a new framework of regulations aimed at safeguarding users and maintaining order within the virtual realm.
While the concept of a metaverse, a connected virtual world enabled by technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality, has garnered widespread interest for its potential applications in gaming, socializing, and more, the introduction of China’s social credit system into this digital domain has raised concerns about privacy and control.
Critics argue that such integration could compromise users’ privacy and freedom of interaction, particularly when juxtaposed with the social credit system’s controversial history of monitoring and evaluating citizens’ behavior in the physical world.
As discussions surrounding the future of the metaverse continue, the clash between safety measures and individual freedoms remains at the forefront of the debate, highlighting the complex challenges that emerge at the intersection of technology and society.
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