Recently, China has proposed to extend their social credit system into the Metaverse and other online virtual domains. According to the information viewed by POLITICO on August 20th, the state-owned telco China Mobile proposed the usage of a digital ID for all Metaverse users. With this ID, they aimed to uphold order in the virtual world by storing and sharing data such as a user’s job and their personal traits with authorities.
In an exemplary context, this system would allow the law enforcement agencies to swiftly locate and penalize a user spreading havoc in the digital world using their digital ID. This proposal resonates with China’s social credit system, which aims at improving citizens’ behavior through scoring and ranking across various parameters. This credit system has been a practical tool for enforcing regulations, as mentioned by the Associated Press, which saw 17.5 million offenders being barred from buying plane tickets in 2018.
However, the usage of a credit system in the digital domain is not devoid of challenges. One could raise concerns about maintaining anonymity and privacy in the online world if such proposals were to be implemented. Policymakers would have to strike a balance between upholding order and safety in the virtual world and not restricting user’s rights and privacy.
In the next gathering of the Metaverse focus group in October, these proposals are set to go under the hammer. If passed, they might bring about significant influence on telcos and tech firms as the group is aiming to rollout new standards for metaverse services. By then, each government might have to confront the question, “Is that the kind of immersive world we want to live in?”
Anonymity in the digital world serves as a double-edged sword – while it fuels creativity and freedom, it can be exploited maliciously. With developments like these, it is clear how vital it is to anticipate changes, stay informed, and be prepared for the unfolding future of blockchain technologies.
Source: Cointelegraph
