Ethical Challenges to Children’s Right to Health in the Metaverse Ecosystem
akhlāq-i pizishkī i.e., Medical Ethics,
Vol. 18 (1403),
29 July 2024
,
Page 1-13
https://doi.org/10.22037/mej.v18i-.47148
Abstract
Methods: This analytical study reviewed 41 relevant articles (from an initial pool of 50 identified using Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Noormags and Civilica databases) published between 2015 and 2023. Keywords included: "Metaverse", "Children's Rights", "Bioethics", "Right to Health", "Artificial Intelligence" and their Persian equivalents. The ethical challenges regarding the protection of children’s rights in the Metaverse were extracted and analyzed, followed by the proposal of legal solutions.
Ethical Considerations: The principles of honesty and integrity were observed in reporting the literature, citing sources and avoiding bias.
Results: Bioethics encompasses a wide range of ethical, social and political issues significantly influencing life sciences and the quality of life, particularly for children. The reviewed articles yielded four main themes: 1. Legal implications and challenges within the Metaverse ecosystem; 2. Frameworks and tools required to support children's right to health in the Metaverse; 3. The creation of complex data networks through blockchain technology; 4. The use of artificial intelligence in areas related to privacy.
Conclusion: While the Metaverse offers potentially immersive and beneficial experiences for children, enhancing their understanding of the world, the risks they face are significant and require proactive solutions. Fundamental children's rights-including the right to education, safety, play, privacy and access to social support are particularly vulnerable to violation in the Metaverse, especially regarding security and privacy. This underscores the need for legislators to develop specific legal frameworks to protect children in virtual environments, particularly within the Metaverse.
- Ethical Challenges; Right to Health; Metaverse; Children’s Rights
How to Cite
References
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