Assembly and Expression in Extended Reality: Transposing Human Rights Across Realities

Abstract

Freedoms of assembly and expression are increasingly recognized in virtual spaces. This paper explores them in the context of immersive extended reality (IXR). We outline possible risks and benefits of IXR to the freedoms of assembly and expression, arguing that with increased embodiment comes increased responsibility to ensure human rights are upheld because those rights become closer to their physical equivalents. To clarify the level of responsibility platforms have in immersive contexts, we offer a novel interpretation of the ideas behind the public function and fair procedure doctrines that incorporates the level of embodiment of a given platform to determine the extent to which freedoms of assembly and expression are implicated.

Keywords: augmented reality, content moderation, extended reality, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, metaverse, platform governance, virtual reality