The Metaverse and the EU’s opportunity to be proactive
16.9.2022
Question for written answer E-003096/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Eva Kaili (S&D)
While still difficult to define, the Metaverse is becoming a virtual world with the capacity to revolutionise most aspects of our lives and provide a constantly expanding and immersive three-dimensional online experience.
Studies expect that by 2026, 25 % of people will spend at least an hour a day on the Metaverse, while its economic impact is projected to reach EUR 5 trillion by 2030[1]. Despite its unpredictable nature and potentially skyrocketing value, the Metaverse is likely to transform many fields and sectors from healthcare to education, to the workspace, gaming and much more[2].
With innovations of such transformative power, there is an urgent need to innovate our policies in the fields and sectors in which the Metaverse can have a significant impact. As Vice-President Vestager has pointed out[3], the Commission is already examining how it can regulate it.
- 1.Can the Commission report on its progress in understanding how it can regulate the Metaverse and which actions need to be prioritised?
- 2.What is the Commission’s assessment of the impact that the Metaverse will have on competition, cybersecurity and privacy rights?
- 3.When does the Commission expect an impact assessment or proposal to be published?
- [1] https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/value-creation-in-the-metaverse
- [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)733557
- [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eus-vestager-says-analysing-metaverse-ahead-possible-regulatory-action-2022-02-08/