China apparently wants digital IDs and real-world penalties for actions that take place in the Metaverse, according to proposals made to a United Nations body.
As news of plans to introduce a system resembling its infamous social credit system into the metaverse and other online virtual worlds circulates, China’s goal of social control is expanding into the digital sphere. According to reports, China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications firm, has put out a proposal that calls for a digital identification (ID) framework for each user of the metaverse and virtual environments. According to reports, this suggested ID would be based on both “natural characteristics” and “social characteristics.”
The proposed digital ID is made to include a wide variety of personal information and distinguishing characteristics in an effort to maintain order and safety in the virtual world. These may, among other things, include a person’s job.
The plan is to communicate this information with the appropriate authorities and store it forever. An example scenario was given showing how this digital ID system may help law enforcement quickly find and reprimand someone who was causing trouble in the metaverse.
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Mirroring the Social Credit System
The proposed framework looks to be an exact replica of China’s current social credit system, which rates and scores residents based on a variety of measures and behaviors. The system of social credit has additionally been used as a weapon for enforcement. There have been instances where social offenders were denied train and airplane tickets based on their scores.
The recommendations put up by China Mobile were first discussed on July 5 with a committee of experts on the metaverse put together by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a communications technology institution under the United Nations. This committee is scheduled to meet once more in October, which might result in a vote on the suggestions. If passed, these ideas could exert substantial influence on telecommunications and technology companies, as the ITU group aims to set new standards for metaverse services.
A Long-Game Strategy
China actively participating in the focus group suggests a calculated effort to shape the future of the metaverse. The nation is making significant investments in the hope that its recommendations will influence the new norms if metaverse usage spreads widely. As the conversation progresses, questions are raised regarding a virtual world where Chinese officials regulate identification protocols. This makes governments all across the world think about the type of immersive digital environment they want.
China’s entry into the metaverse shows the persistent conflict between innovation, governance, and personal freedom in the dynamic interplay between technology and social norms.
Related: Chinese city releases policy draft for metaverse industry development