A tale of two metaverses: assessing the EU’s influence on standard-setting in virtual worlds

This paper examines the potential influence of the European Union (EU) in setting standards for the metaverse, focusing on the need for a unified, international approach to avoid monopolization. It argues that a truly interoperable metaverse will facilitate smoother interactions between platforms and users, thereby enhancing both economic activity and consumer utility. In contrast, the EU’s current rhetoric on promoting multiple metaverses carries significant risks, such as technical incompatibilities and economic concentration, which could lead to new digital divides. To make this argument, this paper presents a detailed analysis of the EU’s involvement in metaverse governance to date and discusses the most important standards essential for a cohesive metaverse, including web protocols, persistent identity, three-dimensional (3D) rendering, data sharing, and privacy protection. The analysis suggests a proactive role for the EU in global standard-setting bodies to ensure that these standards are in line with European values of openness and accessibility. Due to the geopolitical and economic importance of the metaverse, the EU must facilitate a unified, accessible metaverse to ensure that Europe remains competitive in the digital ­future.