Ensuring the Protection of Children in the Metaverse: Legal Frameworks and Strategic Approaches

Małgorzata Joanna Węgrzak ()
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Małgorzata Joanna Węgrzak: University of Alicante, Faculty of Law

A chapter in XR and Metaverse, 2026, pp 297-309 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The metaverse, as an emergent and immersive digital environment, presents both innovative opportunities and substantial risks, particularly for children. With increasing engagement in virtual worlds through VR/AR technologies, minors are exposed to complex risks, including privacy infringements, manipulative commercial practices, and harmful or age-inappropriate content. This paper adopts a qualitative, normative legal methodology to evaluate current regulatory responses aimed at protecting children in the metaverse. It proposes an analytical framework to assess legal, ethical, and technological gaps in safeguarding mechanisms. The findings indicate persistent deficiencies in existing regulatory frameworks, particularly with regard to age verification, child safety measures, privacy and enforcement capacity. In conclusion, the paper advocates for harmonised legislation, the implementation of child-centred design standards, and the integration of robust technological safeguards.

Keywords: Metaverse; Children protection; Data privacy; Online safety; Virtual worlds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-11983-4_22

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-11983-4_22

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