Current privacy frameworks fall short for governing identity in immersive online worlds

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Research published in the International Journal of Web-Based Communities has looked at how digital identity might be governed online, specifically in the so-called metaverse. The study found that current frameworks for digital identity are ill-equipped for emerging immersive online environments, which sit under the umbrella term "metaverse." The work argues that regulators must move from a privacy-focused approach to one that is broader and rights-based.

August 3, 2026

by David Bradley, Inderscience

edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Alexander Pol

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Avatars and access A framework for digital identity in the metaverse. Credit: International Journal of Web Based Communities (2026). DOI: 10.1504/ijwbc.2026.154989

Research published in the International Journal of Web-Based Communities has looked at how digital identity might be governed online, specifically in the so-called metaverse. The study found that current frameworks for digital identity are ill-equipped for emerging immersive online environments, which sit under the umbrella term "metaverse." The work argues that regulators must move from a privacy-focused approach to one that is broader and rights-based.

The study finds that digital identity in the metaverse extends well beyond usernames and authentication. It encompasses avatars, digital personas, identity credentials, data collected by internet-connected sensors, and the relationships and behavioral traces created through continuous interaction in these virtual environments. The team led participatory workshops with young adults to examine three scenarios: social media influencing, extended reality (XR) workplaces, and integrated public-private health care.

In each scenario, the team found that the immersive environments blurred the lines between public and private life. They also increased "datafication," the conversion of everyday behavior into data that can be analyzed and monetized by platform operators, employers and technology providers. The researchers argue that this new concentration of power compromises user privacy and exposes them to harms for which blame cannot be readily apportioned.

There is thus an urgent need for a new approach to governance that is centered on human rights and embeds ethical considerations into technology development.

Nishant Anand et al, Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse, International Journal of Web-Based Communities (2026). DOI: 10.1504/ijwbc.2026.154989

Key concepts AI surveillance capitalism Provided by Inderscience Who's behind this story? Lisa Lock