Navigating Legal Frontiers in the Metaverse: Evaluating UAE's Legislative Frameworks and Stakeholder Perspectives
摘要
The rise of metaverse technologies blurs the lines between real and virtual worlds, creating immersive experiences through virtual and augmented reality. This evolution brings complex legal issues such as privacy, data ownership, intellectual property, jurisdiction, and consumer protection to the forefront. Current laws in many countries, including the UAE, may not adequately address these new challenges. This study explores stakeholder opinions on whether existing UAE legal frameworks align with the opportunities and challenges of metaverse technologies. Surveys were conducted with 220 legal experts and metaverse developers in the UAE market and analyzed using inferential statistics and SPSS. The findings reveal varying perspectives on the adequacy and clarity of current legal frameworks. There is a noted need for legal and regulatory professionals to gain a deeper technical understanding of metaverse technologies. The study highlights the dual opportunities and challenges in adapting UAE legislation to support responsible innovation in the metaverse while ensuring user safety. These insights are intended to guide policymakers in evaluating the need for new or revised laws.