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Information Systems

Information Systems, Games and Gamification

  1.  University of bamberg
  2. Faculties
  3. Information Systems and Applied Computer Sciences
  4. Subject groups
  5. Information Systems
  6. Information Systems, Games and Gamification
  7. Research
  8. Research project PRIME - Privacy in the Metaverse

PRIME - Privacy in the Metaverse

Collage, Adobe Stock Bilder von Ilya, Tetiana und pickup
[Translate to English:] “PRIME – Privatheit im Metaversum” Collage basierend auf Adobe Stock Bildern von Ilya, Tetiana und pickup.

The metaverse is seen as a potential successor of today’s internet. While tech companies are emphasizing the enormous economic potential of the metaverse, it also poses new threats to the privacy of potential users.

In this context, the research project “PRIME – Privacy in the Metaverse” aims to gather knowledge in the current early phase of the development of metaverse platforms in order to enable citizens to engage in an informed discourse about the opportunities and risks of using metaverse platforms for their privacy, self-determination and data protection. The project also aims to develop new methods and design principles to support content creators and service providers on metaverse platforms in protecting the users’ privacy.

The collaborative project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for a duration of 36 months, is being carried out by our research group the University of Bamberg in close cooperation with ConPolicy GmbH in Berlin, the University of Bonn, and the University of G?ttingen. The project focuses on the following research areas:

  • Design and evaluation of user interfaces and design practices that enable users of metaverse platforms to effectively exercise their right to privacy, for instance by supporting informed consent and protecting users from harassment and abuse.
  • Development and testing of metrics for evaluating the design of virtual content on metaverse platforms in terms of its impact on user privacy with the aim of identifying and countering dark patterns and deceptive design in the metaverse.
  • Exploration and testing of innovative design and development processes to capture user feedback on interfaces and metrics using both traditional usability research methods and techniques embedded directly within the metaverse environment.

The research project builds on broad public relations and cooperation with regional partners, such as the open innovation lab JOSEPHS in Nuremberg, the XR Hub Bavaria, Games in Bavaria, or Journee Technologies GmbH.

Funding reference: 16KIS1895

Duration: July 2023 - June 2026

Further information:
– https://privacy-metaverse.de
– https://www.forschung-it-sicherheit-kommunikationssysteme.de/projekte/prime

Team: Runjie Xie, Prof. Dr. Benedikt Morschheuser