A European Regulatory Framework for the Metaverse MetaverseUA Chair Research Paper #1

Abstract

This Paper aims to explore whether and to which extent the current legal and regulatory framework adopted in the European Union to address the new challenges of a well- developed, still in expansion, and increasingly sophisticated digital economy apply and, if so, are suited to metaverse-related activities, markets, and actors. The analysis is focused on the scope of application and the issues addressed by the three European Digital Acts under study: the DSA (together with the P2B Regulation), the DMA, and the AI Act. It is not aimed to be an in-depth study of these Acts, but an initial assessment of their applicability, the main points of frictions, and the possible gaps or inadequacies given the features of metaverse-related activities. Besides and nonetheless the foregone, the Paper does also provide a non-exhaustive list of other issues, primarily with a private-law perspective, accompanied by some insights and reflections: legal status of avatars, personal data protection, content and behavior moderation, consumer protection, unfair commercial practices, interoperability considerations, law enforcement and dispute resolution.