Washington, DC — On Tuesday, May 2, the XR Association (XRA) submitted written testimony in response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on virtual worlds. The Commission’s request will inform its new initiative, “Virtual Worlds – a Vision for Openness, Safety, and Respect” which seeks to develop a vision for adopting and implementing emerging virtual worlds in the European Union (EU).
XRA’s submission outlines recommendations for the Commission around the proper implementation and advancement of immersive technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. The Association emphasized the importance of considering the privacy, accessibility, and legal implications of XR technologies if not developed responsibly.
“The impact of XR technologies will be a powerful one,” the submission reads. “Fortunately, organizations like XRA and bodies like the European Commission are actively engaged in addressing important challenges today – before virtual worlds become a part of everyday life. With the cooperation of like-minded partners, we can enable a system of virtual worlds that betters society.”
Furthermore, XRA provided several examples of successful use cases and takeaways that the organization gathered from actively participating in discussions with member companies and other international initiatives. XRA’s ultimate goal is to develop standards ensuring XR technologies and virtual worlds are humanitarian and accessible.
“We’re grateful to have had the opportunity to engage and participate in a dialogue with the European Commission around the responsible growth and development of immersive experiences,” Joan O’Hara, Vice President of Public Policy at XRA said. “This initiative will take a proactive approach in the EU, and aid in shaping how virtual worlds are built and regulated in the EU. We look forward to contributing more in the future.”
