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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 considered a potential next stage in the evolution of the internet. While tech companies emphasize its enormous economic potential, this emerging technology also poses new risks to the privacy of its future users.

Against this backdrop, the research project PRIME - Privacy in the Metaverse aims to generate knowledge during the current early stage of metaverse platform development. The goal is to enable citizens to engage in an informed discourse on the opportunities and risks of using metaverse platforms with respect to privacy, autonomy and data protection. In addition, the project seeks to develop new methods and design approaches that support developers of content and services on metaverse platforms in protecting user privacy.

The collaborative project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for a duration of 36 months, is led by our research group at 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 key 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 project places a strong emphasis on public engagement and cooperation with regional partners, including the open innovation lab JOSEPHS in Nuremberg, the XR Hub Bavaria, and Games in Bavaria. 

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