The metaverse. A swirling nebula of possibility. A classroom for innovative, interactivity, and, most importantly, individuality. Here, on the other hand, we’re not subject to the laws and gravity and physics. We can be anyone, anything. That “anyone” is more and more embodied by our avatars. These digital surrogates, or avatars, are rapidly moving away from simplistic, cartoonish figures. Today, they function as extensions of our identities—carefully, calculatedly, and purposefully displaying not just who we are, but who we want to be or even hope to become.

Beneath the shimmering surface of this digital Eden lies a lurking danger: the potential for a dystopian future where our identities are even more controlled, more surveilled, more vulnerable than they are today. Or are we sleeping our way into a world where the personal liberties that today’s metaverse purports to offer are just a mirage?

Digital ID: Echoes of Past Mistakes?

Think back to the early 2000s. Faced with a surge of social discontent, Tony Blair’s government, in a move that now seems eerily far-seeing, advanced the cause of national ID cards. That’s where the London School of Economics (LSE) Identity Project, mercifully, came in. Their investigation, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, picked apart the plan, shining a light on its myriad flaws and helping to lead to its defeat. They raised the alarm about centralized control and oppressive uses of biometric data. They were right to warn against the hubris of assuming government could execute a moonshot IT project without disastrous cost overruns.

Now, fast forward to the metaverse. As we’re creating these new worlds today, are we taking lessons learned from the past? Are we about to make the same mistakes all over again with centralized identity? This time, we’re doing it on a scale the likes of which Blair ever dreamed. These are just some examples of how the LSE Identity Project’s findings are timely and relevant today. They recognized risks such as surveillance, exclusion, and the erosion of privacy. These aren’t just theoretical worries; they’re existential dangers lurking just below the shimmering surface of our technology paradise.

Web3 has sold us a bill of goods on the democratizing power of decentralization. Are we truly decentralized if our digital fingerprints are still tied to centralized ecosystems? Think about it: how many different accounts, passwords, and verifications do you need just to navigate the current internet? Now imagine the metaverse, rich with that complexity. Each virtual world needs its own authentication and each one requests a different slice of your digital self.

Avatars: A Beacon of Hope?

Here's where avatars come in. What if our avatars could evolve into our authentic digital identities – portable, customizable and, above all, independent from the platforms, user-owned? Picture an environment where your avatar, data, and reputation are truly yours. You have complete control over what data you share, who you share it with and what you share it for. You’re free from the grip of big tech, where you had to give up your personal information to receive their services.

This isn't just pie-in-the-sky idealism. But blockchain technology, NFTs, and decentralized identity protocols are bringing this dream closer to reality every day. Introducing Avatars We can design avatars that are provably rare, cryptographically secure and completely in our control.

There's a catch. It’s really just a question of how we develop these systems. If we just reproduce the existing power structures of the internet, we’re going to run into the same issues. In this case, these problems will be compounded. We can’t just assume the internet will be more decentralized, or private, or empower users to separate platform and function.

Forgotten Voices: Metaverse for Everyone?

And what about marginalized communities? But just as with the physical world, the metaverse risks furthering these inequities. Representation matters. Accessibility matters. If avatars are designed with only able-bodied, wealthy people in mind, we could very well end up excluding and alienating marginalized groups. Together, let’s make our digital space welcoming for all.

Think about it. After all, facial recognition software already fails to accurately identify people of color. How will these biases be reflected in the metaverse? And what about people with disabilities? Will they be able to fully participate in virtual worlds if avatars aren't designed with accessibility in mind?

So it’s not surprising that Professor Reetika Khera’s devastating critique of India’s Aadhaar system should stand as a warning. Good technology, she contends, paired with terrible administration can create disastrous effects, particularly for marginalized communities. Let’s develop the metaverse on the best and most modern technology available. We must make equity and inclusion a priority at every stage of the process.

  • Representation: Avatars should be customizable enough to reflect the diversity of human experience.
  • Accessibility: Virtual worlds must be designed to be accessible to people with disabilities.
  • Bias Mitigation: We need to actively identify and address biases in avatar design and virtual environments.
  • Education: We need to educate users about the risks and opportunities of digital identity.

We should make sure that the metaverse doesn’t exclude people based on their race, gender, identity, abilities or any other factor. This requires conscious effort, inclusive design, and a willingness to listen to the voices of those who are often marginalized.

The future of the metaverse isn't predetermined. It's up to us to shape it. We can choose to replicate the mistakes of the past, creating a digital dystopia where our identities are controlled and surveilled. Alternatively, let’s harness the promise of avatars to help build a more equitable, empowering, inclusive, and decentralized avatar-powered future.

What role will you play in shaping that future?