Exploring ethical considerations in Metaverse from the education perspective

Abstract:

Originally seen as a specialized aspect of Web 3.0, the Metaverse has experienced a significant transformation, now emerging as a multi-trillion-dollar industry. The educational sector holds a crucial role within this industry, utilizing the Metaverse as an inventive tool for both educators and students. Interactions within the Metaverse are anticipated to heavily rely on an extensive flow of user-derived data. This encompasses the potential to track personally identifiable biometric information using wearable devices or advanced technologies. These advancements raise ethical and legal concerns related to privacy and accessibility. Given these concerns, it is appropriate to initiate meditation on the ethical aspects and establish guidelines and frameworks regarding user interactions. The purpose of this paper is to initiate a dialogue about the ethical consequences of Metaverse-centered education, providing a nuanced comprehension of the ethical facets of this emerging field. Our objective is to highlight a broader perspective on a potential solution. In this sense, we suggest a set of Metaverse Ethical Principles that can enrich the understanding of this poorly explored territory. These principles aim to ensure the respon-sible, fair, and comprehensive implementation of the Metaverse in the field of education.