On July 11 2023, the European Commission adopted a new strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. In the strategy, the Commission presented its vision and proposed roadmap which aim to make a significant contribution in achieving the objectives of the Digital Decade in regards to technological leadership, sovereignty and competitiveness by 2030.
The strategy sets out to shape Web 4.0 technology as well as virtual worlds in a way that reflects the values and principles of the EU, guarantees respect for the rights of people living in the EU, and provides an environment in which European businesses can thrive.
The four key pillars of the strategy
1. Empowering people and enhancing skills
By the first quarter of 2024 at the latest, the Commission will publish guidelines for the general public in the form of a „toolkit for citizens”
The Commission will work with the Member States, in order to build a talent pool and support the enhancement of skills, also among women and girls, through projects funded under the „Digital Europe” programme.
2. Transformation of businesses
The Commission will support digital content creators and media companies in the EU in testing new tools, ensure collaboration between developers and commercial users, and work with Member States to provide regulatory sandboxes related to Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.
3. Transformation of public services
The Commission is investing in important initiatives, among others „Destination Earth” (DestinE), Local Digital Twins for Smart Communities and the European Ocean Digital Twin
The Commission will launch two new flagship initiatives: „CitiVerse” – i.e. an immersive urban environment that can be used for city planning and management, and the European Human Virtual Twin, i.e., a copy of the human body to support clinical decision-making and treatment in individual cases.
4. Shaping global standards for open and interoperable virtual worlds and Web 4.0 technology
The Commission will work with stakeholders in the area of Internet governance around the world and promote standards for Web 4.0 technology which are in line with the vision and values of the EU.
Why has the Commission launched the new initiative on Web 4.0 technologies and virtual worlds?
The European Commission aims to ensure that the EU’s public, businesses and public bodies are ready to take advantage of the opportunities created by the 4.0 tech and the virtual world. Virtual worlds offer significant chances in industrial and social fields. In the manufacturing sector, digital twins help test and optimize production processes, rendering them more efficient and sustainable. In the cultural and creative sectors, virtual worlds offer new ways to create, promote and distribute European content and interact with audiences.
One important potential in the virtual world is education and training, particularly in the medical field, for such things as emergency situations or surgical simulations to reduce the risk of surgical complications and to increase the accuracy of diagnosis. Additionally, virtual classrooms will enable students and teachers to visualize abstract objects or simulate scientific experiments without endangerment.
What regulations might apply currently to Web 4.0 technology and the virtual world?
The EU has a substantial regulatory framework that applies to several aspects related to the development of the virtual world and Web 4.0 technology.
With regard to protecting and enforcing the rights of individuals and businesses in the digital world, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act introduce a comprehensive accountability system for platform as well as search engine providers and core platform service providers, respectively. The said regulations also apply to virtual worlds and Web 4.0 technology.
The GDPR guarantees the proper processing of personal data, and EU consumer protection regulations, particularly the Unfair Commercial Practives Directive, protect against manipulation of consumers’ online choices and transactions. The newly adopted Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) addresses cryptoassets not covered by existing financial services regulations.
The aforementioned legal frameworks will be very important in the context of emerging virtual worlds.