We’re sold these every day as the immersive worlds, digital twins, that futuristic scenario—all the marketing hyperbole where our online and offline lives effortlessly converge. The metaverse, right? At the same time, are we creating castles on sand, looking past the very real issues and cracks in our foundation? I think we are. Everyone’s scrambling to make the coolest avatars and virtual land. They should first train their sights on the big and un-sexy work ahead — namely, on digital identity and safety. This is not a technology problem — it’s a people problem.

Can You Really Trust Anyone?

Imagine walking into a crowded marketplace. You can see, hear, touch, smell the world, true, but cannot verify anyone’s identity. Are they who they say they are? Are they trying to scam you? That’s the metaverse right now. We're so focused on the how of building these worlds that we're completely neglecting the who. Who are these people behind the avatars? What are their intentions? And what happens when things go wrong?

Here’s an example of a company getting it right that we’re particularly excited about—Authologic, a London-based digital identity verification platform. Importantly, they understand that the real task is addressing the root problem of verifying digital identity. Only after solving this issue do they think about selling a good or service. This “problem-first” approach, in the words of co-founder Jarek Sygitowicz, is just what the metaverse ordered. His prescription to “stop selling and start listening” is right on the money. It’s a refreshing change and a direct challenge to the pervasive techbro culture of build first, ask questions later.

Think about it: How secure is your digital identity in these nascent metaverses? Can someone easily impersonate you? Steal your virtual assets? Harass you without consequence? The reply, nine times out of ten, is affirmative. And that’s terrifying.

Digital Wild West or Safe Haven?

The joint metaverse experience today is reminiscent of the Wild West. Untamed. Unregulated. Ripe for exploitation. And who suffers most? The vulnerable. The naive. It’s the literal newcomers whom this vision attracts – the new residents, newcomers and migrants all lured by the promise of a better, more connected world. Instead, they are led into a digital minefield, full of identity theft, harassment, and scams.

  • Identity Theft: Avatars are easily duplicated, leading to impersonation and fraud.
  • Harassment: Anonymity emboldens bad actors to engage in abusive behavior.
  • Financial Scams: The lack of regulation makes it easy for scammers to prey on unsuspecting users.

We need to ask ourselves: Are we creating a digital utopia, or a digital dystopia? Are we building a world where everyone can thrive, or a world where only the tech-savvy and the unscrupulous can prosper?

This isn’t just about protecting users. It’s about the future of the metaverse and what it will even be. If riders don’t feel safe and secure, they aren’t going to ride it. And if nobody plays it, all of the impressive graphics and virtual reality experiences in the universe will not make a difference.

Real World Consequences, Virtual World Problems

The metaverse isn't some isolated digital realm. It's an extension of our real world. What we’re experiencing online is a reflection, and in many ways, it’s a distortion, of the systemic issues we experience offline. Inequality, discrimination and exploitation – they’re all here in the metaverse, sometimes even more insidious than before.

You might recall that graphic novel in progress that I mentioned. It explored these very themes. The changing nature of our realities and digital experiences, the ways technology can free us and the ways it can even enslave us. The metaverse today, more than ever, tilts insidiously towards the latter.

Authologic’s mission to connect traditional KYC checks with emerging electronic IDs (eIDs) is an ambitious and timely undertaking. It’s only part of the picture. What we really need is a more holistic approach that focuses on addressing the seedier underlying concerns of distrust, data security, and access. We need regulation. We need ethical guidelines. Last, but really most important, we need a change in attitude.

Instead of asking "How can we build the coolest metaverse?", we need to be asking "How can we build a safe, equitable, and inclusive metaverse?"

Stop chasing the next shiny object. Start solving the real problems. Our digital future depends on it. And yours too.