Interoperability in the Metaverse - BRIEFING PAPER JANUARY 2023 In collaboration with Accenture - weforum.org
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In collaboration with Accenture Interoperability in the Metaverse BRIEFING PAPER JANUARY 2023
Images: Getty Images
Contents
Foreword 3
Executive summary 4
Introduction 5
1 Highlighting interoperability and its opportunities 8
2 Actions to enable interoperability 12
3 Towards a governance framework 16
Contributors 17
Endnotes 22
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Interoperability in the Metaverse 2
January 2023 Interoperability in the Metaverse
Foreword
Cathy Li
Kevin Collins
Head, Media, Entertainment
Managing Director and
and Sport and Member of
Global Software and
the Executive Committee,
Platforms Lead, Accenture
World Economic Forum
The next era of the internet is coming, with “interoperability”, “privacy, security and safety”
the convergence of technologies forging “the and “identity”.
metaverse” – an immersive, interoperable and
synchronous digital world. Though a standard This first briefing paper, written by the World
definition for the metaverse is still under Economic Forum in collaboration with Accenture,
development, experts agree that this new age aims to explain interoperability, which is founded
of the internet will likely disrupt and transform on the ability of data to circulate via interoperable
current social and economic structures. From infrastructures, of participants to be able to move
more immersive, empathetic social experiences themselves, their assets and their creations across
to increased universal access to services and platforms and experiences, and of experiences
education, the metaverse presents momentous being safeguarded through collaboration and
opportunity but also brings about new challenges. guardrails such as content moderation. For the
metaverse to operate seamlessly, it will require
It is within this context that, in May 2022, the varying degrees of interoperability for users to
World Economic Forum launched the Defining move, create, transact and participate across
and Building the Metaverse initiative. The goal different platforms and localities.
of the initiative is to advance consensus among
major metaverse stakeholders and contribute to Overall, the Defining and Building the Metaverse
a future metaverse that is economically viable, initiative has brought together a global, multi-
interoperable, safe, equitable and inclusive. The sector working group of more than 100 experts in
initiative does so via two tracks: governance and academia, civil society, government, technology
economic and social value creation. and business. All insights, frameworks and
guidance published in the frame of this initiative
The value creation track looks at the opportunities are being co-designed and guided by this working
in consumer, industrial and enterprise metaverses group. Multistakeholder discussions on the
and researches the considerations for access, metaverse play a critical role in catalysing the cross-
inclusion, sustainability and well-being that will sector global cooperation that is necessary to
come with its development. design and build a human-first metaverse.
Meanwhile, the governance track focuses on This publication aims to illuminate this topic but
governance frameworks that may empower does not claim to provide a comprehensive view
stakeholders to lead responsibly within the of the metaverse. However, it gives a glimpse into
metaverse while mitigating potential socioeconomic the complex issues that can arise when the cyber
harms. Through consultation with experts from and physical worlds come together, as well as the
academia, civil society, government and business, role of multistakeholder collaboration in building the
the Forum began exploring themes relating to metaverse to its true potential.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 3
Executive summary
Matthew Ball’s vision of the metaverse is “a new potential revenue streams, access to new
massively scaled and interoperable network of audiences and possible points of connection for
real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be enterprise partnerships and industrial logistics.
experienced synchronously and persistently by
an effectively unlimited number of users with an achieve this frictionless state, good system-wide
To
individual sense of presence and with continuity interoperability of the metaverse should consider
of data, such as identity, history, entitlements, interests such asprivacy, security and safety.
objects, communications and payments.”1 These Given the borderless nature of the metaverse,
real-time rendered worlds are expected to be multistakeholder and multilateral collaboration will be
accessed through devices like extended reality (XR) required to reach consensus on design choices, best
technologies, desktops, tablets and smartphones. practices, standards and management activities.
this analysis, interoperability in the metaverse
In To enable responsible metaverse interoperability,
can present enormous opportunities and value stakeholders must consider technical, usage and
for frictionless experiences, development and jurisdictional aspects.
economies.
– Technical interoperability design addresses
– Frictionless experiences enable users topics such as network constraints, asset
to move across and between the physical ownership, intellectual property protections,
and digital world with relevant data, digital payments, identity, data privacy and security
assets and identity(s). This could facilitate concerns at both hardware and software levels.
greater consumer engagement but also
provide efficiencies in enterprise, as well – Meanwhile, usage interoperability keeps users
as industrial applications. at the centre of design, creating the metaverse
globally, inclusively and across demographics
– The standardization of tools and both the to ensure equitable experiences.
formation and adoption of uniform development
practices resulting from interoperability could – Finally, jurisdictional interoperability must
allow stakeholders to benefit from frictionless include best practices and standards for the
development – or network effects that provide entire data supply chain and across localities,
efficiencies and cost savings across consumer, industries and nations.
enterprise and industrial interaction paradigms.
The findings in this briefing paper serve as
– Frictionless economies allow for greater a baseline for further research that will inform
access, marketplace engagement through a future governance white paper. The white paper
healthy competition, transactional efficiencies will make recommendations, including those
and trust if interoperability balances privacy, for interoperability, in tandem with those from
security and safety. Such new market future privacy, security and safety, and identity
opportunities will be able to make use of briefing papers.
existing economies of scale while providing
Interoperability in the Metaverse 4Introduction
Defining interoperability, its relevance to the
metaverse and its relationship to themes of
identity, privacy, security and safety.
Bloomberg estimates metaverse commerce to be case studies, identifying key challenges
$800 billion by 2024.2,3 Just like the internet today, and proposing opportunities so executives,
much of the metaverse’s potential depends on governments and stakeholders across society may
some forms of interoperability. This briefing paper be empowered to collaborate and make human-first
intends to demystify by highlighting interoperability design choices.
FIGURE 1 Key concepts
Metaverse
A massively scaled and interoperable network of real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously and
persistently by an effectively unlimited number of users with an individual sense of presence, and with continuity of data, such as
identity, history, entitlements, objects, communications and payments (Matthew Ball).
Metaverse stakeholders Human-first metaverse Interoperability
Providers, creators, participants and other A metaverse that prioritizes the human The ability to interact, exchange and make
individuals from academia, government, needs of the individual and consequently use of data and resulting information to
business and civil society. integrates supportive design choices, enable movement, transactions and
tools and interactions to respect the participation across systems, platforms,
persons behind the data. This transcends environments and technologies.
decisions – from architecture and security
to privacy, identity and safety choices.
Web3 Web 3.0 Extended reality (XR)
web3 describes an emerging portfolio Web 3.0 describes the third stage of the XR is an umbrella term that includes
of decentralized technologies, protocols World Wide Web’s development. It is an immersive technologies such as augment-
and standards that help to establish evolution focused on distributing systems ed reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and
provenance, veracity and value of data. to create a more secure, transparent and mixed reality (MR).
open internet experience that enables
direct interactions between users and
their peers without intermediaries.
The metaverse creates immersive experiences that likely transform existing social experiences and
are enabled by a range of technologies—including, digital economies, presenting both meaningful
but not limited to, extended reality (XR),4 artificial opportunities and critical challenges for web3
intelligence (AI),5 internet of things,6 and digital technologies and Web 3.0. Interoperability in the
twins.7 Many experts agree that the metaverse is metaverse will play a key role in how those social
the natural evolution of digital platforms8 and will experiences and digital economies are transformed.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 5FIGURE 2 Layers of interoperability and considerations
Experience management layer Considerations
Interoperability guidance, standards, best
Guardrails Collaboration
practices, etc. at each level should consider three
key areas:
Stakeholder participation layer – Technical interoperability
– Usage interoperability
Access Movement Transactions Creation – Jurisdictional interoperability
Data and infrastructure layer These apply to places within the metaverse and
stakeholders’ assets, data and identity(s).
Computing Networks
While interoperability may initially seem like a topic – participation, and data and infrastructure – of
only to be considered from a technical perspective, the metaverse be safe, inclusive, equitable and
it is much broader and requires consideration economically viable.
across usage and jurisdictional domains as well.
Interoperability is a tool – or value lever
Each of these key areas will affect management – that stakeholders may employ to:
decisions, participation abilities, data and
infrastructure design. – Improve access to participate, work and play
in digital experiences and digital marketplaces
Foundationally, interoperability depends on data
interchange across infrastructures to enable – Activate social, privacy, security and financial
participants’ ability to access, move, transact and network effects
create within and across digital (and physical)
worlds. It is with the utmost importance that – Extend (real-life) experiences in novel ways
guardrails and collaboration take place at the to provide value to end-users.
management layer to ensure that the sub-layers
BOX 1 Standards
Standards are multidimensional tools – used by practitioners – to provide guidance and specifications
to products and services.
Standards for interoperability would provide guidance for how, when and where interoperability would,
could and should, or should not, be used.
A lack of standards for interoperability may result in fragmented systems.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 6FIGURE 3 Metaverse value levers
Building the metaverse requires Security
a delicate interplay of design
choices across value levers
Privacy Safety
Metaverse
value levers
Interoperability
Interoperability design choices must be balanced to Given the delicate interplay of design choices
create flexible systems that also consider privacy, and value levers to pull – standards, guidance,
security, safety, and identity needs. Interoperability best practices, and other means should be timely
may not always be the desired state. While not and not be created independently. It is integral
inherently at odds, an action that only maximizes that stakeholders – providers, creators, civil
a single value – such as interoperability – may do society and participants alike – both formally and
so at the expense of achieving other goals. For informally collaborate to co-develop human-first
example, over-indexing on interoperability without interoperability best practices and standards to
balancing safety as a value may expose children to maximize the potential of the metaverse at scale.
unwanted content creating an imbalance between
the desired levels of safety and privacy.
FIGURE 4 Metaverse stakeholders
Providers Participants Creators
The technology, platform and service Individuals also known as end-users of Makers of content and experiences; they
providers that build the infrastructure and the metaverse; they participate in the create content for participants on the
devices for the metaverse. experiences made by creators that are platforms that providers make available.
hosted by providers.
Society
Society is the manifestation of communities that creators, participants and providers live in and engage with in real life.
It is inclusive of individuals from academia, government, private and public businesses, and citizens at large.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 71 Highlighting interoperability
and its opportunities
Interoperability has the potential to
transform experiences, development and
economies to give providers, creators, civil
society and participants value.
While the below outlines potential end-state 1. Assets: Participants are enabled to bring and
opportunities, it is essential to reflect that these use assets from one space into other spaces,
target states will require levels of interoperability both digital and physical – e.g. a buyer wishes
and technical execution beyond those to bring their digital wallet into a virtual world
demonstrated in Web 2.0. Overcoming present hosted by another provider. They use (existing)
challenges, harmonizing with existing governance payment rails to pay with fiat or other digital
and collaborating on net-new industry practices currencies to purchase both a physical and
requires careful architecting to address the digital concert t-shirt that can be worn by an
2.5D and 3D requirements of the metaverse. By avatar across interoperable environments or
collaboratively addressing these interoperability worn by the individual in real life.
design choices, stakeholders can capitalize on the
market value provided by interoperability. 2. Authentication: Participants are enabled
to set their preferences for data sharing
– providing only the most essential or
owards frictionless
T required data when accessing experiences.
By choosing either a trusted third-party
experiences intermediary or self-management with
decentralized data stores, a user can
The metaverse allows participants to blend create a single interoperable token that
technology and reality through ease of access provides authentication into multiple different
across XR technologies – augmented reality (AR),9 independent services, devices, platforms
mixed reality (MR)10 and virtual reality (VR)11 – and and systems. This shares only relevant
other access points such as computers, tablets information required to continue engaging
and phones. with an experience. This could be used across
experiences like unlocking an AR headset,
Interoperability contributes to the metaverse keying into a point of sale (PoS) system,
experience by providing improved continuity completing a transaction online or badging into
and a sense of presence irrespective of where a building.
an individual may be – or may be going – in
the physical or digital world. Interoperability Frictionless experiences can persist beyond just
enables all users, from consumers to enterprise importing assets into a new virtual world – they
organizations and industrial applications, and can create near-seamless onboarding experiences
their individual or collective assets, to move to new spaces, enable efficient transactions,
across and between the physical and digital world create streamlined data management and improve
with their relevant data. Examples might include the flexibility of technologies. Case study 1
interoperability of: showcases the opportunities for interoperability.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 8CASE STUDY 1
Healthcare in the metaverse
A surgical team is conducting real-time surgery who is physically with them and relayed across
with some physicians present through mixed the team. The telerobotic surgical tools are
reality headsets and smartphone AR. The team accessible to physicians with preapproved access
can see the same situation at the same time with so each can virtually use a physical machine
imperceptible latency across different devices at the site of the surgery from any location if
and platforms. AI-assisted language localization is needed. The on-site physician can also adjust the
accessible across experiences to allow for multi- machines and scan the new configuration, so they
lingual preferences. are visible to everyone.
The patient’s electronic health records are easily Once the patient is in recovery, although unable
accessible as an overlay for each physician, and to have visitors, they are able to interact with
they can take notes or make highlights on the family while in a headset as parents and siblings
records so that the others can see as it happens. see them in augmented reality. Families can
To verify that the records are indeed those of that reach out and hold hands, which is picked up
specific patient, their biometric data is analysed by sensors on the phone and felt by the patient
before the surgery and scanned by the physician through haptic gloves.
B owards frictionless
T communities increased access and ability to
socialize, engage and use a single platform and/
development or experiences across more devices – thus,
creating more egalitarian opportunities to create,
Opportunities for interoperability to improve engage, and consume content.
metaverse interactions go beyond participant
experiences. Interoperability creates a channel where 3. Financial network effects: Stakeholders may
providers and creators may benefit from uniform produce digital assets or services that provide
standards and tooling, resulting in network effects,12 value and gain visibility to a wider market
which provides time efficiencies and cost savings. across multiple platforms. For example, a brand
selling digital assets benefits when that asset is
When communities standardize, make use of transported – or informally marketed – across
uniform tooling and adopt common practices, metaverse experiences. When it is seen and
creators and developers benefit. For example, when then purchased by other potential customers
communities cooperate, stakeholders may benefit the brand benefits financially.
from improvements in the following:
4. Privacy and security network effects:
1. Development network effects: Stakeholders Stakeholders may reduce time spent on
may reduce time spent on curating multiple file developing unique privacy and security
formats, access protocols, asset definitions elements, e.g. by participating in a community
and/or communication protocols for a single where all users have agreed to common
digital asset. For example, users will want the enforcement mechanisms and policies,
avatars they design to be consistent across end-users experience continuity of safety.
experiences and platforms. Interoperability Simultaneously, stakeholders may potentially
standards and design best practices will allow reduce resourcing needed to support individual
for the individuality of avatars and consistent privacy and security efforts and mitigate against
design styles in different experiences, but with harms as the entire community contributes to
consistency in users’ representative features. the collective.
This provides developers with an increased
ability to capitalize on efficiencies and produce While not exhaustive, these examples highlight how
valuable content. network effects can multiply if interoperability is
adopted across geographic regions and technical
2. Social network effects: Stakeholders may access points. However, it is cautioned that each
reduce time spent on enabling content metaverse stakeholder sets their own strategy to
compatibility to be backwards-compatible take advantage of these market opportunities;
and cross-platform to provide content to missteps may lead to negative repercussions
a wider audience – e.g. a developer that such as brand confusion, revenue leakage and
creates an immersive experience for VR can IP concerns. It is only with careful investment,
more easily enable the same experience to multistakeholder coordination and thoughtful efforts
be presented on desktop, mobile and other that developmental, social, financial, security and
devices while maintaining expectations of privacy benefits may be reaped. Case study 2
low latency and persistence. This provides highlights such benefits.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 9CASE STUDY 2
Advanced manufacturing in the metaverse
An advanced manufacturing vendor 3D prints The vendor is enabled to cross-reference the part
spacecraft parts on-demand for international via an application programming interface (API)
space tourism maintenance clients: with the International Standards Organization
(ISO) database to confirm specifications and
A maintenance engineer from a client in South manufacturing schematics. The ISO specification
America needs to refurbish a recently returned allows the engineer to be confident that the
spacecraft before its next launch. They use 3D-printed parts will be compatible with their
AR that is interoperable with an interactive spacecraft and pass inspection.
maintenance checklist to inspect the spacecraft
and identify parts that need to be replaced. The vendor allows the customer to purchase
an on-demand licence to receive certified 3D
Logging into a virtual storefront, the engineer printing schematics to print it themselves to
and sales manager use a digital twin of the their own printer. By using industrial 3D printers
clients’ spacecraft that is interoperable with a that are interoperable with standard file formats,
back-end parts catalogue to identify the parts that materials and compliance certificates, it promotes
need to be replaced. accessibility for buyers to access the platform as
needed irrespective of device or location.
C owards frictionless
T enables a wider audience to participate in the
digital economy and enterprise functions. For
economies example, individuals within a marketplace that
have issues obtaining VR headsets due to high-
While benefits thus far have focused on outlining tax import fees may instead access metaverse
positive externalities for providers, creators and experiences from more accessible hardware –
participants, interoperability also benefits society. like smartphones.
By standardizing development tools and processes, 2. Increased engagement: By reaching a broader
while also creating standards regarding how to marketplace, participants and creators can
move, transact, access and create, society has develop and engage with a broader set of
effectively created, augmented and expanded assets and experiences. This expands global,
a new digital marketplace. For example, dynamic marketplaces where new economic
interoperability is a value lever that can enable the opportunities flourish. For example, a movie
following: producer on a European streaming service can
casually access an Australian audience, given
1. Increased access: By standardizing that audiences no longer have to intentionally
hardware compatibility and interoperable use tools like virtual private networks (VPNs) to
data interchange, the market creates access gain access to systems that were previously
parity and equity for marginalized groups. This region locked.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 103. Increased efficiencies: By standardizing trust in transactions. For example, a seller of a
transaction processes via nimble cross-border non-fungible token (NFT) can prove authenticity
payments,13 exchanges,14 and atomic settling to a buyer as the asset’s history was enabled to
processes,15,16 time savings occur. For example, move with it across platforms.
a bank may potentially avoid the need to settle
transactions through an exchange house While not comprehensive, the above showcase
and instead can settle directly with a given new market opportunities. Again, like in frictionless
consumer. experiences and development, a frictionless
economy must navigate market challenges,
4. Increased trust: By using blockchain competition concerns, IP law, as well as technical,
technology – or a value exchange supported by usage and jurisdictional challenges. When executed
universal data provenance17 and data lineage18 strategically, benefits, as demonstrated in case
– consumers and sellers can possess greater study 3, may be obtained.
CASE STUDY 3
Consumer experience in the metaverse
A luxury car maker from Asia has developed a This dealer offers multiple options for purchasing,
virtual showroom for a new line of built-to-order such as buying the physical car, purchasing an
automobiles; this maximizes customization and NFT digital replica, or both. Should the consumer
minimizes inventory. wish to purchase an NFT of the car, they may
save the car to their digital wallet and transport
A customer is enabled to access a 3D virtual the object into relevant games. Should they wish
showroom on their device. Here, they are to purchase the physical car, they are able to
able to tailor all aspects of the build. Once purchase the car directly from the online design
customization is complete, the customer has experience, through a kiosk at a dealership or
the option to virtually test-drive the new car on with a sales agent using fiat or cryptocurrencies.
various digital tracks, including snowy mountains
in the Nordics, sandy roads in the Middle East All parts of the experience and transaction
or smooth interstates in Australia. Given the are dynamically linked to the customer’s
selected track and present driving conditions, identity; upon ordering a physical car, the car
the customized car will react accordingly to is built and delivered. Should the customer
provide an authentic experience. Whether using a ever wish to sell either their NFT or physical
console, phone, laptop, headset or an advanced car, the asset comes with certificates
simulator, the consumer can use available proving its authenticity and ownership.
controls to drive the car.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 112 Actions to enable
interoperability
Interoperability offers a wealth of
possibilities, but there are also risks
to be mitigated.
While interoperability promises lucrative interoperability challenges are the same as Web 2.0,
opportunities in certain scenarios, stakeholders the below acknowledges existing barriers, identifies
must consider technical, usage and jurisdictional new concerns and provides ways for stakeholders
mechanisms to mitigate risks.19,20 Granting some to champion interoperability.
BOX 2 Technical interoperability
The ability to build seamless connections across different technologies or closed networks.
A Technical interoperability designers should examine how localization,
latency and bandwidth can be addressed
to extend a similar sense of persistence and
Technical interoperability21 in the metaverse requires presence across metaverse experiences.
a strong network infrastructure foundation that Given the differences in the availability of
allows for data interchange across varying hardware hardware, stakeholders should examine
and software to deliver (near) realistic experiences. how data interchange can be designed to
support inclusive access irrespective of
Technical Just like webpages require transmission control device. This could be achieved through
interoperability protocol (TCP)/IP to exchange data and HTML backward compatibility standards, minimum
design should for presenting information in 2D, the metaverse bandwidth requirements or the production of
consider how to will require a similar degree of standardization scaled experiences for global accessibility.
to enable communication and interoperability. For example, a sports tournament could be
address topics
Among others, this includes reviewing: 1) the completely immersive in a headset, be semi-
such as network scope of data needing to move across devices and immersive with AR/MR or desktop browser,
constraints, networks, 2) the timeliness of the data exchange, or passively streamed to a mobile device.
asset ownership, 3) the file formats and data schemas, 4) the artistic The production of technical standards such
IP protections, and stylistic interpretation of assets, and 5) the as glTF26 and/or universal scene description
payments, identity, computing power required to process transmitted (USD)27 will support data interchange
data privacy and data. Standards groups, like the Metaverse interoperability across the infrastructure. Future
security concerns. Standards Forum,22 the Open Metaverse Alliance best practices should cover functional usage
for Web3 (OMA3),23 and stalwarts like the Institute and technical data interchange.
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)24 and
the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)25 have 2. Data privacy and security: Metaverse
started – and should continue – to consider these hardware technologies – such as AR glasses,
technical interchange needs. VR goggles, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)28
and other sensors – will produce and process
Beyond the technical structure, given that data is a myriad of data. These data types may
at the heart of all participation and management include (perceived) field of view (FoV),29 voice
activities in the metaverse, technical interoperability analysis, biometric data30 such as heart-rate
design should consider how to address topics monitoring, iris scans, pupil dilation,31 and
such as network constraints, asset ownership, IP inferred data32 like gait detection. It is critical
protections, payments, identity, data privacy and that stakeholders consider the gravity of these
security concerns at both hardware and software data types and position privacy and security
levels to cultivate a human-first metaverse. at the centre of competitive, interoperability
standards. Standards bodies should make use
1. Infrastructure requirements: Accessibility and of existing privacy, security, and child safety
inclusivity are essential to building a human- frameworks and enterprise risk management
first metaverse. From a technical approach, tools33 when:
Interoperability in the Metaverse 12While addressing – Setting standards for data collection, keep them in a digital wallet available across
interoperability sharing, classification, labels, retention, platforms and experiences. This functionality
challenges and ownership, rights, agency, storage locations creates technical requirements around: 1) how
and encryption methods. items should be associated with, collectively
employing human-
managed by and interoperate across users, 2)
centric design
– Advising on how much data and what how assets should translate and be rendered
processes, it is type of information must be exchanged to across interoperable worlds, and 3) how
essential to include support persistence and presence, and data should be attached to portable objects
individuals across enable users to move across worlds. to provide provenance. Moreover, as digital
cultures to achieve objects can easily be copied, requirements
inclusive design38 – Setting standards for how and when data or must also protect intellectual property to
that respects persons should be authenticated to provide prevent copyright infringement. Stakeholders
cultures, norms expected degrees of anonymity. should review how standards and common
and practices. structures – like APIs and regulations from the
3. Identity and onboarding: Web 2.0 asked 2D world – may translate and be enforced in
users to accept terms of service and cookies immersive spaces and 3D objects. While not
and occasionally verify age before accessing exhaustive, some solutions may include web3
webpages – which has shown to be limited technologies like distributed ledgers, digital
and easily bypassed. Similarly, traversing wallets and smart contracts.
immersive spaces will require users to opt-
in to new experiences. In 3D environments, 5. Payments: The metaverse economy will
however, beyond accepting notice and require technical interoperability to extend
consent structures, opting in may include to transactions and currencies, but like the
creating a new avatar and agreeing to net-new existing banking system, it will be complex
codes of conduct or community standards. and differentiated, with standardization
This lengthy and tedious process can be existing as appropriate. With the rise of digital
reimagined and supported through technical currencies, providers should consider what
interoperability design. Stakeholders should cross-settlement36 should look like and the
consider how individuals and associated role of digital exchanges. For example, if a
identities, or attributes, assets and preferences participant from China wishes to use the digital
may follow users across experiences to yuan (e-CNY), stakeholders should address
reduce recreating identities and improve the what this data and currency interchange
onboarding experiences while keeping users’ looks like across users, borders and the
privacy and security rights in mind. It is worth physical-digital paradigm more broadly.
considering, however, that users may wish to Select opportunities may lend themselves
have multiple identities and expectations in to using financial institutions’ know-your-
different environments. Digital intermediaries,34,35 customer (KYC) frameworks in the metaverse.
or trusted third parties, could facilitate actions Questions about data interchange support
such as identity clearing, asset management and compliance also need to be addressed,
and compliance checking, among others. as well as critical issues regarding taxation
in each of the relevant jurisdictions.
4. Asset ownership: The economy of the
metaverse will be supported by the creation, Solutions across these categories are highly varied
buying, selling and trading of digital assets. but will rely on guidance from standards bodies.
Owners of digital assets are likely to want to
BOX 3 Usage interoperability
The ability for different demographic groups to participate in the metaverse and to participate across
different geographies at low cost, leading to inclusion without any discrimination.
B Usage interoperability enjoy the benefits the metaverse offers. However,
this is not without its challenges.
Usage interoperability37 is a core component of 1. Designing and collaborating globally: While
the metaverse and is required to deliver value-add, addressing interoperability challenges and
human-first experiences. Consideration of the employing human-centric design processes, it is
following components may assist in developing essential to include individuals across cultures to
and implementing meaningful decisions across achieve inclusive design38 that respects cultures,
interoperability layers in a way that prioritizes human norms and practices.
needs and consequently integrates supportive
design choices, tools and interactions. By 2. Designing across demographics:
conscientiously building with usage interoperability Stakeholders should not assume that all users
in mind, metaverse stakeholders will collectively are created equal. For example, a minor has
Interoperability in the Metaverse 13different needs than an adult, and a young first- c. An individual that cannot access VR
time user should not be treated like a seasoned hardware due to external barriers should not
cybersecurity professional; each has a different be excluded from accessing a metaverse
digital literacy level and tolerance for being event or experience.
exposed to sensitive content and other users.
Information, content and experiences should 4. Designs that are fit for use: Stakeholders
be appropriate for different levels, from novice must identify the underlying needs or problems
to professional. As such, design considerations that metaverse experiences are solving for and
should be equitable and inclusive to protect design the experience and community guidelines
the end-user’s interests. These choices include accordingly. For example:
items such as: 1) age-appropriate design,39
2) how and when participants can traverse, a. An individual’s awareness of cultural norms
enter and engage with worlds,40 3) which across virtual borders may affect user
assets are portable across experiences, 4) how experience and preferences.
and to what degree content and conduct are
moderated, 5) what data is captured,41 and 6) b. An individual may choose to obscure
how interoperability is integrated to protect the facial expressions from other avatars in
interests of children. entertainment experiences; however, in a
therapy or telehealth session, it may be a
3. Designing for inclusivity and accessibility: requirement to enable sharing.
Stakeholders should thoughtfully ensure that
designing for accessibility does not result in By considering the above, stakeholders empower
a lesser experience. Stakeholders should individuals and enable access to potentially life-
collaborate to curate and expand developer altering technology. Implementation of solutions
guides42,43,44 for accessibility needs, including but across these categories are varied but will rely
not limited to the following use cases: heavily on human-first design and literacy campaigns
that educate and involve participants, creators,
a. An individual using VR who is blind or has providers and society on how to make inclusive
low vision should not be relegated to using a choices on:
lesser alternative; creators should design an
immersive headset that is rendered for users 1. Setting expectations for terms of service.45
with limited or reduced vision or something
with functional equivalence. 2. Creating standardized community guidelines
and codes of conduct – inclusive of content and
b. An individual using a standard AR tool to conduct moderation mechanisms and portability
translate street signs in real-time should be of assets.
enabled to select a default language that
translates the text into the user’s native 3. Defining the limits of what should be
language instead of needing to rely on interoperable to protect privacy, uphold security
defaults – such as English. and ensure end-user safety.
BOX 4 Jurisdictional interoperability
The ability to operate within a jurisdiction or across different jurisdictions governed by differing regulatory
requirements to ensure that metaverse activities are conducted in a lawful manner.
C Jurisdictional interoperability of a physical-centric legal system, the metaverse
must address data flows resulting from
geographic constraints. For example, a German
Jurisdictional interoperability, also known as citizen lives abroad in the United States but is
regulatory interoperability,46 centres the conversation currently in Peru while accessing a metaverse
on how to collectively curate interoperable world hosted in Australia. Which data laws apply
metaverse experiences while considering to this citizen and the experiences they have?
stakeholders’ varied locations, regulations, and From a compliance perspective, what laws must
regional and cultural expectations. The boundless the platform(s), data exchange(s) and other
metaverse exposes challenges, including: stakeholders prioritize? With increasing amounts
of critical, sensitive data, the ramifications of
1. Data compliance: Regional localities data use in the metaverse expand beyond those
maintain regulatory guidelines and mandates of Web 2.0.
for managing the data supply chain. This
scope includes acquiring, storing, disclosing, 2. Transacting and creating: The expanse of
aggregating, analysing, manipulating, using, the metaverse leaves questions open to how
sharing, selling and disposing of data. With a the international community should address
boundless metaverse built within the constructs participants’ ability to transact and create within
Interoperability in the Metaverse 14new 3D spaces. This brings into question topics Solutions across these categories are varied
of ownership, intellectual property, copyright, but include:
trademark and licensing laws, along with
contract, security, tax and employment law. 1. Establishing inclusive channels across
Their relation to digital currencies, assets and localities, industries and nations to facilitate
virtual places opens more areas to explore for open dialogues where competitive standards
metaverse law. can be co-developed to address concerns,
such as:
3. Accountability: As in Web 2.0, users will
experience harms, such as identity fraud, – How stakeholders can mitigate risks
transaction fraud or other social harms. and ensure privacy and security
Metaverse stakeholders must create compliance throughout the entirety
accountability models that enable recourse of the data supply chain.
and redress for social and economic harms.
Additionally, these must be multilateral to – What best practices and solutions may
allow participants, creators and providers to encourage commerce while protecting
benefit irrespective of geography. Moreover, stakeholders across the transaction and
while transgressions and cybercrimes may creation life cycle.
be occurring in VR, the physical world must
indicate how the international community – What the necessary components of identity
should address digital services to create safe frameworks are that enable appropriate
digital spaces. mechanisms to enforce accountability and
seek recourse and redress.
4. Identity frameworks: Digital identity is the
nexus to an interoperable metaverse. It enables 2. Reviewing existing regulatory frameworks
accountability and the capacity to traverse created in Web 2.0 and analysing how
worlds with minimal friction. Identity is also existing laws around relevant topics – like
highly contextual. For example, a punk rocker online safety and content moderation – may
may want to disassociate from their musical be applied in metaverse spaces before crafting
persona during their workday as an attorney. new regulation.
Where possible, interoperability should honour
the human-first need for selective anonymity 3. Formalizing research and development
and pseudonymity to protect user privacy while between private-public sector bodies via
respecting the tension between self-expression regulatory sandboxes, academic investment,
and creating safe environments. trade organization creation and/or non-profit
engagement.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 153 Towards a governance
framework
The Forum is collaborating to identify a
governance framework that considers privacy,
security, identity, safety and interoperability.
The following items will be helpful to consider when interoperability should involve diverse
composing a future governance framework: stakeholders – including providers, creators, civil
society and metaverse participants – to assist
1. The interoperable metaverse must be in establishing a common language, necessary
human-first to prioritize the well-being of standards, industry best practices and policies
all stakeholders: Creating a human-first where appropriate.
metaverse depends on interoperability
considerations across design processes – 6. Social contracts and participant
extending to data interchange practices, expectations vary across experiences:
participation considerations, agency and Decisions in an interoperable metaverse must
management decisions. be made in context. Context should be included
when considering conduct moderation, content
2. Interoperability design must consider moderation, identification requirements and the
existing privacy, security and child-safety degree of interoperability permissible for a given
frameworks to strike the necessary balance: platform and/or experience.
Stakeholders should seek to make inclusive
design choices that do not marginalize or 7. Interoperability is nuanced, multi-
unnecessarily exclude populations based on dimensional and is a spectrum that should
privacy, security or safety preferences. be respected: Interoperability is a market
choice that providers may implement to create
3. Metaverse literacy is indispensable for openness and differentiated services across
enabling safe, interoperable experiences: platforms, virtual worlds and experiences.
Metaverse stakeholders not informed of digital Not all facets of the metaverse should be
processes cannot knowledgeably interact across interoperable and metaverse stakeholders
the metaverse. Informed consent is necessary should carefully consider decisions mandating
to engage in digital spaces. Multistakeholder as such.
approaches must invest in digital literacy as a
component of building the metaverse. The above findings will be used in conjunction with
outcomes from other briefing papers to inform a
4. Interoperability design choices should white paper on metaverse governance.
be meaningful and timely: Standards,
best practices and other forms of guidance Although harmonizing existing regulations and
are only productive if they provide value by building new policy may prove necessary to adapt
solving for identified, established concerns. to new and unforeseen challenges, continued
Incomplete and hurried interventions and/or collaboration between metaverse stakeholders –
regulation may incur significant tradeoffs that inclusive of providers, creators, civil society and
can stifle market innovations. Late regulation, on participants – and further research into policy,
the other hand, can also result in complications standards and other forms of guidance are a key
to technical standards compliance. Additionally, first step towards progress in building a metaverse
certain cases require earlier intervention or that is human-first. Businesses, governments,
regulation, particularly in child safety and academia and civil society should collaborate to
medical use cases. build appropriate standards that support metaverse
interoperability, encourage innovation and take a
5. Technical data interchange, participant human-first approach. More work is to be done,
engagement and management across but understanding the foundation that will drive
experiences are dependent on multi- interoperability, and the potential it can unlock, is an
stakeholder collaboration: Well-designed important first step.
Interoperability in the Metaverse 16Contributors
This paper is a combined effort based on numerous Phil Chen
interviews, discussions, workshops and research. Chief Decentralized Officer, HTC-VIA
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily
reflect the views of the individuals or organizations Nick Clegg
involved in the project or listed below. Sincere President, Global Affairs, Meta
thanks are extended to those who contributed their
Julie Goldin
insights via interviews and workshops, including
Chief Product and Marketing Officer, LEGO Group
those not captured below.
Julie Inman Grant
World Economic Forum eSafety Commissioner, Office of the eSafety
Commissioner, Australia
Cathy Li Marwan Bin Haidar
Head, Shaping the Future of Media, Entertainment Executive Vice-President, Innovation and the Future,
and Sport; Member of the Executive Committee Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
Stephanie Llamas Mansoor Hanif
Project Lead, XR Ecosystem Governance Head, Infrastructure Policy and Emerging
Technologies, NEOM
Erin Marie Parsons
Project Specialist, XR Ecosystem Governance Huda Al Hashimi
Deputy Minister, Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs,
Metaverse Initiative Office of the Prime Minister of the United Arab
Emirates
Project Fellows
Brittan Heller
Kevin Collins Fellow, Digital Forensics Research Lab,
Managing Director, Software and Platforms, Global, The Atlantic Council
Accenture
Peggy Johnson
Matt Price Chief Executive Officer, Magic Leap
Manager, Metaverse Continuum Business Group
Nuala O’Connor
(MCBG), North America, Accenture
Senior Vice-President and Chief Counsel,
Anna Schilling Digital Citizenship, Walmart
Manager, Applied Intelligence Strategy, North
Tony Parisi
America, Accenture
Chief Product Officer, Lamina1
Kathryn White
Philip Rosedale
Associate Director, Metaverse Continuum Business
Co-Founder, High Fidelity
Group (MCBG), North America, Accenture
Brad Smith
Steering Committee members Vice-Chair and President, Microsoft
Yat Siu
Jeremy Bailenson Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Animoca
Thomas More Storke Professor of Communication, Brands
Stanford University
Hugo Swart
Stephanie Burns Vice-President and General Manager, XR,
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Sony Qualcomm Incorporated
Adam Caplan Artur Sychov
Senior Vice-President, Emerging Technology, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Somnium
Salesforce Space
Inhyok Cha Kent Walker
Group Chief Digital Officer, CJ Group, Chief President, Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer,
Executive Officer, CJ Olivenetworks Google
David Chalmers
Professor of Philosophy, New York University
Interoperability in the Metaverse 17Acknowledgements
Sincere appreciation is extended to the following Marine Boulot
working group members, who spent numerous Vice-President of Public Relations and
hours providing critical input and feedback to the Communications, Improbable Worlds
drafts. Their diverse insights are fundamental to the
success of this work. Mahmut Boz
Head, Anticipatory Regulation and Regulatory
Joe Abi Akl Experimentation, NEOM
Chief Corporate Development Officer, Majid Al
Futtaim Holding; Managing Director, Xsight Future Gareth Burkhill-Howarth
Solutions Global Data Protection Officer, WPP
Prabhat Agarwal Jehangir Byramji
Acting Head of Unit, eCommerce and Platforms, Emerging Technology and Innovation, Lloyds
European Commission Banking Group
Seokhyun Elliott Ahn Marquis Cabrera
Vice-President, DT Executive Director, CDO Office Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Stat Zero
and Chief Strategy Officer, CJ ONS
Pearly Chen
Anju Ahuja Vice-President, HTC-VIA
Vice-President, Product Strategy and Insights,
Cablelabs Magda Cocco
Head, Practice Partner Information, Communication
Saeed Aldhaheri and Technology, Vieira de Almeida and Associados
Director, Center for Futures Studies, University SP RL
of Dubai
Anna Maria Collard
Flavia Alves Senior Vice-President, Content Strategy and
Head, International Institutions Relations, Meta Evangelist, Knowbe4
Platforms
Sandra Cortesi
Yoni Assia Director, Youth and Media, Berkman Klein Center
Chief Executive Officer, eToro for Internet and Society, Harvard University
Frank Badalamenti Sadie Creese
Partner, PwC Americas Professor of Cybersecurity, University of Oxford
Moritz Baier-Lentz William Cutler
Partner and Head, Gaming, Lightspeed Venture Head, Tech Policy and Deputy to UK Tech Envoy,
Partners United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office
Itamar Benedy
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Anzu.io Nighat Dad
Founder and Executive Director, Digital Rights
Luna Bianchi Foundation
Advocacy and Policy Officer, AI, Digital and Virtual
Governance, Privacy Network Julie Dawson
Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer, Yoti
Mihailo Bjelic
Co-Founder, Polygon, Matic Network Pte Eileen Donahoe
Executive Director, Global Digital Policy Incubator,
Doreen Bogdan-Martin Stanford University
Secretary-General-elect, International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Sarah Kate Ellis
President and Chief Executive Officer, GLAAD
Gustavo Borges
Professor of Human Rights and Social Media, Liv Erickson
University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina Hubs Lead, Mozilla Corporation
Sebastien Borget Maureen Fan
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, The Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
Sandbox Baobab Studios
Interoperability in the Metaverse 18Tom Ffiske Stephen Kavanagh
Editor, Immersive Wire Executive Director, Police Services, International
Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
Fabio La Franca
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Blueverse Masa Kawashima
Ventures Executive Producer and Director, Asia Pacific
Operations, Niantic
Inbal Goldberger
Vice-President, Trust and Safety, Activefence Hoda Al Khzaimi
Assistant Research Professor, Engineering
Patrick Grady Department, New York University – Abu Dhabi,
Policy Analyst, Center for Data Innovation United Arab Emirates
James Hairston Melissa Kiehl
Director, AR/VR Policy, Meta Platforms Innovation and Foresight Advisor, International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Cortney Harding
Chief Executive Officer, Friends with Holograms Ingrid Kopp
Co-Founder, Electric South
Susie Hargreaves
Chief Executive Officer, Internet Watch Foundation Ashish Kumar
(IWF) Manager, Digital Strategy Office, Ministry of
Communications and Information (MCI) Singapore
Vera Heitmann
Leader, Digital and Growth, Public Affairs, Ingka Natalie Lacey
Group (IKEA) Chief Research Officer, Ipsos
Heidi Holman Sly Lee
Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Emerge
Tatsuya Ichikawa Leon Lyu
Chief Executive Officer, Avers Co-Founder, Booming Tech
Stephanie Ifayemi Kuniyoshi Mabuchi
Head, Policy, Partnership on AI Managing Director, PwC Japan
Gina Reif Ilardi Deena Magnall
General Counsel, Vindex Director, Global Digital and Technology Policy,
L’Oréal
Rolf Illenberger
Chief Executive Officer, VRdirect Noora Al Malek
Associate Project Manager, Artificial Intelligence
Michael G. Jacobides Office, United Arab Emirates Government
Professor of Strategy, Sir Donald Gordon Professor
of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, London Charles de Marcilly
Business School Administrator, Council of the European Union
Mikaela Jade Dinusha Mendis
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Indigital Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation
Law, Bournemouth University
Amy Jordan
Director, Technology Policy, Office of Jade Meskill
Communications (Ofcom) Vice-President, Product, Magic Leap
Makarand Joshi Mauro Miedico
Director, Internet of Things Strategy, Schneider Deputy Director and Chief, Special Projects and
Digital, Schneider Electric Innovation, United Nations Office on Counter
Terrorism (UNOCT)
Anthony Justman
Vice-President and Deputy General Counsel, Sony Anna Miyagi
Interactive Entertainment Deputy Counselor, Secretariat of Intellectual
Property Strategy Headquarters, Cabinet Office
Lea Kaspar of Japan
Executive Director, Global Partners Digital
Interoperability in the Metaverse 19Hiroaki Miyata Var Shankar
Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy Director, Policy, Responsible Artificial Intelligence
Management, Keio University Institute
Hamdullah Mohib Nagwa El Shenawi
Managing Director, Khas Fund, Chimera Investment Undersecretary, Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology, Egypt
Angelica Munson
Executive Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Shiseido Lewis Smithingham
Senior Vice-President, Innovation, S4Capital
Genki Oda
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Remixpoint Philippe Stransky-Heilkron
Senior Vice-President and Chief Architect, Kudelski
Judith Okonkwo Group
Founder, Imìsí 3D Creation Lab
Su Kiang Lau
Esteban Ordano Executive Director, Group Compliance, Standard
Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Decentraland Chartered Bank
Foundation
Tan Kiat How
Helen Papagiannis Minister of State for Communications and
Founder, XR Goes Pop Information and National Development of Singapore
Park Yuhyun Claire Thwaites
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, DQ Institute Senior Director, EMEA Government Affairs,
The LEGO Group
Kavya Pearlman
Founder and Chief Executive Office, XR Safety Timmu Tõke
Initiative Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Ready
Player Me
Bertrand Perez
Chief Executive Officer, Web 3.0 Technologies Neil Trevett
Foundation Chair, Metaverse Standards Forum
Susan Persky Paul Trueman
Head, Immersive Simulation Program; Head, Health Senior Vice-President, Cyber and Intelligence
Communication and Behavior Unit, National Human Solutions, Mastercard
Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Marc Vancoppenolle
David Ryan Polgar Vice-President, Government Affairs International,
Founder and Executive Director, All Tech is Human Nokia
Saif Al Rahma Sara Lisa Vogl
International Legal Advisory, Dubai Economic Creator, R00ts Club
and Tourism Department, United Arab Emirates
Government Steven Vosloo
Digital Policy Specialist, United Nations Children’s
Yonatan Raz-Fridman Fund (UNICEF)
Chief Executive Officer, Supersocial
Larry Wade
Simmy Rease Senior Director, Crypto/BC Risk and Compliance,
Senior Legal Counsel/evision (e& life), e& PayPal
Michaël Reffay Lynette Wallworth
Advisor, Digital, Telecommunications and Postal Artist, Studio Wallworth
Services, Permanent Representation of France to
the European Union Alice Wang
Managing Director, Corporate and Investment Bank
Dan Rice (CIB) Strategy, JPMorgan
Vice-President, Digital Governance, Walmart
Gregory Welch
Tim Roberts Professor and AdventHealth Endowed Chair in
Managing Director and Co-Head of the UK Region, Healthcare Simulation, University of Central Florida
AlixPartners
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