Development of Ethical Framework for Metaverse

Abstract

The convergence of virtual reality (VR) and the rapidly evolving Metaverse is transforming how we interact with technology, creating unprecedented opportunities for immersive experiences and novel forms of social interaction. This exciting new frontier, however, is marred by a significant challenge: the absence of comprehensive ethical frameworks and robust governance mechanisms within these digital spaces. This deficiency fosters a climate in which unethical behavior, including the alarming prevalence of hate speech, can flourish unchecked. While initiatives like Extended Reality Safety Initiative (XRSI) and MetaHate attempt to address these concerns, practical implementation within real-world virtual environments remains a substantial hurdle, especially for developers. This research proposes a novel ethical speech recognition system designed to detect unethical language within VR and the metaverse. This system is built on Unreal Engine (UE), utilises the Runtime Speech Recognizer (RSR) plugin, incorporating a dynamic dictionary of unethical phrases and real-time detection. Initial evaluations show the system's potential to identify unethical language in VR interactions, showcasing its efficacy in a multiplayer VR environment. This research, therefore, contributes significantly to the ongoing efforts to build ethical and inclusive immersive technologies, paving the way for safer and more responsible interactions in virtual environments