17:00 , 3 February 2023

Utopia or nightmare? Making the metaverse a safe space - Techtopia.

The era of a new internet is dawning. The “metaverse,” as many call it, could revolutionize how we work, learn and communicate. But it could also give rise to unprecedented online harassment and abuse — something London-based researcher Nina Jane Patel experienced firsthand when, within minutes of exploring the space, she was sexually harassed by other avatars.

In this episode of DW’s Techtopia, we take a deep dive into the world of immersive technologies. We have insights into how the internet of the future will look like. And we discuss how to make the “metaverse” a safe space — and how we might have to redefine what’s considered abuse in a world where physical and digital realities merge.

Please note: The episode describes instances of sexual violence.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

0:44 - What to expect

1:41 - The London case

3:05 – What is the “metaverse”?

4:42 – Harassment and abuse in the metaverse

6:34 – Investigating digital spaces

8:01 – How today’s internet became what it is

9:20 – A woman goes public about abuse in the metaverse

11:08 – Who is building the metaverse?

12:20 – Why Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is investing so heavily in the field