#ai_lawsorg
On June 26, 2023, the first of a two-part webinar series focusing on identity in the Metaverse was held by the Chair for the Responsible Development of the Metaverse. The webinar, titled â??**Avatars and The Protection of Digital Identities in the Metaverse**,â? featured a discussion led by Martin EBERS, the President of the Robotics & AI Law Society. Key participants included Cristina PONCIBÃ?, Julija KALPOKIENÃ?, and Paul DE HERT.
The panel discussed the role of avatars, the potential of bestowing avatars with rights and obligations independent of their human counterparts, and the fate of these digital identities after the death of the person they represent. They touched on issues like contractual rights, intellectual property rights, potential violations of avatar rights, and ended with a proposition to recognize digital identity as a fundamental right.
They further examined the type of avatars that should receive protection, the impact on private law relationships, and the duty of states to protect such rights. Legal aspects, including the role of platform providers in rule enforcement, legal responsibility of avatars, and the enforcement of rights and obligations, were also addressed.
Importantly, the discussion highlighted the need for a cautious and balanced legal approach, emphasizing the significant role privacy law could play and the potential application of existing human rights frameworks. The complexities posed by emerging technologies and the significance of understanding unwritten platform norms were also acknowledged.