But at this point it has all the regulatory certainty of a Wild West. A new, expansive, dangerous frontier full of possibility— but peril. Virtually, you can amass a wealth of virtual power. But watch out—someone can just as easily hijack your digital property, pretend to be you, or cyberstalk you with little to no repercussions. The answer? Lack of verifiable identity, end of discussion.

Think about it. In the physical world, we have government-issued IDs – a driver’s license, a passport, that we use as trusted identifiers to show who we are. These documents are manifestations of trust. They enable us to do business, receive services, and fully function in society with trust and security. In the real life replacement of the metaverse, that bedrock is gone. Instead, we’re left with fake avatars and pseudonyms, creating a world where no one ever gets held accountable for anything they do.

Metaverse Needs a Digital Sheriff

Imagine a metaverse artist named Anya. Then she spends several months conjuring a glorious virtual sculpture. Then she discovers that a fellow artist has pirated her work and is selling it as their own. Without a secure method of verifying her identity and her ownership, Anya is out of options. Her good name is ruined, her livelihood vanishes, and her dream dies. This is not fertile ground for naysayers or this isn’t a hypothetical discussion, this is a reality every day.

This is where Hopae’s hConnect is useful. They’re marketing it as a decentralized, worldwide eID verification platform—the first of its so-called decentralized kind, anyway. And honestly, the idea is intriguing. Government-issued digital IDs, or eIDs, might be the digital sheriff the metaverse sorely lacks. Picture this enhanced world featuring quicker verification times, reduced fraud, and immediate approvals. It’s a huge improvement over the cumbersome document upload and selfie verification that exists today!

Let's be real. The road to a widely agreed-upon metaverse ID isn’t strewn with good intentions by itself. There are serious hurdles to overcome.

eIDAS 2.0: A Savior or a Threat?

The EU’s eIDAS 2.0 regulation, which lays the groundwork for European digital identity, calls for 80% eID adoption by 2030. That’s an ambitious agenda, and if all successful it may prove a game-changer. The likelihood that governments would have such power over our digital identities within the metaverse is terrifying enough on its own, and it should scare everyone.

Could eIDs be used for surveillance? Might they be weaponized to silence unpopular criticism or hurt innovation? These are not just paranoid fantasies. History is clear that any technology, even the most benevolent, could be weaponized.

Hopae contends that hConnect can address the issue of having to directly integrate with each national system. They act as an intermediary. But who is watching the intermediary? Who protects them from abusing their position?

Here's a quick rundown of the challenges Hopae (and others) face:

  • Administrative: Getting access to all those national systems is a nightmare.
  • Technical: Different countries use different eID formats. Standardizing them is a monumental task.
  • Cultural: Even if the technology works, convincing people to trust eIDs will be an uphill battle.

Trust, Privacy, And Decentralized Future

To be clear, I’m a big believer in technology’s power to solve problems. I know that technology alone is not enough. To ensure that it does not exacerbate existing inequities, we need a strong ethical framework to guide its development and deployment.

Maybe the solution is integrating eIDs with blockchain tech. Now, picture a decentralized identity system. In this web3 model, consumers own their data but the process of verification is open and cannot be changed. Done right, this could be an incredible opportunity to safeguard security while preserving privacy and keeping eIDs from being weaponized.

The metaverse is still in its infancy. It’s an opportunity to define it for the future, to build a safe, free digital space where everyone’s dignity is protected. Hopae's hConnect may be a step in the right direction, but it's crucial that we proceed with caution, asking the tough questions and demanding answers. The future of digital identity rests on it. We need to not only accept this convenience, we should insist upon security, privacy, and freedom. Otherwise, we’re just creating a gilded cage.

  • Blockchain Integration: Could hConnect integrate with blockchain-based identity solutions for security?
  • User Control: How can we ensure users retain control over their data and identities?
  • Open Standards: Should there be open standards for digital identity in the metaverse?

The metaverse is still in its infancy. We have a chance to shape its future, to create a digital world that is both safe and free. Hopae's hConnect may be a step in the right direction, but it's crucial that we proceed with caution, asking the tough questions and demanding answers. The future of digital identity depends on it. We must demand more than just convenience; we must demand security, privacy, and freedom. Or else, we're just building a gilded cage.