The MetaverseUA Chair Newsletter #11 – MetaverseUA Chair Congress Recap: Best Bits and Big-Time Thanks!

The day continued with our panel on “Avatars and Digital Identity in the Metaverse”, moderated by Julian Lopez Richart. Esteemed speakers Vera Lúcia Raposo, Lorena Arismendy Mengual, Giovanni Sorrentino, and A. Patricia Llaque Gálvez presented their papers covering crucial themes such as the realities and legalities of avatars, the possible accountability for their actions, the establishment of a distinct digital identity within the Metaverse, and reflections on the concept of human identity. Their insights were enriched by discussions led by Lisa Käde and Martin Ebers, who will provide valuable perspectives and foster engaging debates.

Following a satisfying treat (accompanied by coffee to keep us energized), Nuria Oliver, PhD captivated us with her presentation on Generative AI. She cautioned about the biases encountered during their training and the challenges inherent in this demanding endeavor.

And after such an Orwellian warning, our esteemed director Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella,  was in charge of moderating the panel on “Privacy and Personal Data Protection in the Metaverse”, which served as a platform for great speakers such as Natalia Menéndez González, Pablo Trigo Kramcsák, Sweta Degalahal (Tilburg University), Stanley Simoes and Javier López-Guzmán. Together, they explored a range of topics such as the influence of privacy-enhancing technologies like blockchain on virtual environments, the evolution of virtual public spaces, the utilization of biometric and behavioral data in AI systems, international transfers of personal data, and the integration of data protection by design principles in the Metaverse. Their presentations were complemented by insightful discussions led by Nicolas de Bouville (Meta) and Migle Laukyte (Universitat Pompeu Fabra – Barcelona).

Wrapping up the day (well, actually it continued with some drinks afterwards, but that’s between those present), Laurent Manderieux chaired the panel on “Intellectual Property on the Metaverse”. Esteemed speakers such as Sara Louredo C, Vanessa JIMENEZ SERRANIA, Daylin Valdés Hernández, and Ioanna Lapatoura participated, exploring topics such as advancements in industrial designs within virtual worlds, competition and protected rights in a dominant regime, NFTs, and horizontal copyright and trademark laws in the Metaverse. Their presentations sparked insightful discussions guided by Gaetano Dimita and Enrico Bonadio.

Friday 14th June

The second day of the Congress began with the Workshop on digital rights in the Metaverse, featuring the presentation of the Spanish national research project «Desarrollo de la Carta de Derechos Digitales» funded by Red.es and the Recovery & Resilience Fund (NextGenerationEU). Discussions also included plans for research collaborations between the MetaverseUA Chair and various entities over the next two years.

Those who couldn’t manage to get out of bed on time (possibly due to late-night socializing), headed directly to Lasse Rouhiainen‘s keynote, who played the role of fortune teller to make predictions about the future of the Metaverse. And it’s safe to say, the outlook appears promising!

Next, Przemyslaw ‘Paul’ Polanski chaired the panel on “Content and Behaviour Moderation in the Metaverse”, which offered a suggestive glimpse into the difficulties that can arise in this domain. In particular, Pin Lean Lau, Noémie Krack, Jean De Meyere, Gian Marco Bovenzi, Adèle Serio and Salomé Lannier delved into critical topics such as predatory behavior, user safety under the DSA framework, the complexities of content moderation in decentralized metaverses, protection of young users, and the role of undercover agents in virtual environments. Their perspectives were enriched by lively discussions guided by Giancarlo F. and Jan De Bruyne.

To cap off the event, Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell moderated the final panel on «Virtual Worlds as Markets» featuring scholars such as Ana Mercedes López Rodríguez, Jacopo Ciani, Marcos Cruz González and GERMÁN DARÍO FLOREZ ACERO as speakers. They delved into several topics including the conflict between the localization tendencies of private international law and metaverse environments, transparency requirements aimed at rebuilding trust, the reassessment of the role of IP rights, license agreements, and NFTs in these contexts, and the imperative of safeguarding consumer interests within these evolving digital realms. Antonio Serrano Acitores and Giovanni Maria Riccio contributed to the discussion by providing additional perspective on framing the topic.

The conclusion of the Congress was orchestrated by all the Chairs, under the leadership of Manuel Desantes, President of the Scientific Committee. Together, they harmonized their thoughts on the themes discussed, adding their personal spins on what it all means for the future of society as we know it. But naturally, such daring forecasts will stay within the confines of the Germán Bernácer 😉

Lastly, amidst guitar arpeggios, the closing ceremony of the Master in Digital Society (which has now opened registration for its fourth edition) featured an inspiring keynote speech by Bern Hugenholtz that will surely leave a lasting impact on the graduates. We extend our warmest congratulations to these «masters of the metaverse», assured of their promising future, whether they choose to thrive within the virtual realm or explore opportunities beyond it.

And just like that, we wrap up the review of this (first?) edition of the MetaverseUA Chair International Congress. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants and contributors whose hard work and dedication have made this a truly landmark event. Your efforts have set a high standard for future editions, and we look forward to continuing this virtual journey together!