What are the ethical considerations of using AR/VR technologies in public spaces?

By Aman Priyanshu

When it comes to using AR/VR technologies in public spaces, there are several ethical considerations to take into account. One of the primary concerns is the invasion of privacy. AR/VR devices can capture and store sensitive information about individuals, such as their location, activities, and even biometric data. This raises questions about consent and the potential for unauthorized surveillance. Additionally, there is the risk of creating a digital divide, where those who cannot afford or access AR/VR technologies may be excluded from certain public experiences or services. Furthermore, there is the issue of data security and the potential for unauthorized access to personal information, which could lead to identity theft or other forms of exploitation.

To put it simply, using AR/VR technologies in public spaces raises ethical concerns related to privacy, consent, and access. Imagine walking through a crowded city street wearing a pair of AR glasses that can identify and display personal information about everyone you see. This could include their names, addresses, or even their medical history. Now, imagine if this information fell into the wrong hands and was used for malicious purposes. This is why it’s crucial to carefully consider the ethical implications of using AR/VR in public spaces, to ensure that everyone’s privacy and security are protected.

Please note that the provided answer is a brief overview; for a comprehensive exploration of privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, and privacy engineering, as well as the innovative contributions from our students at Carnegie Mellon’s Privacy Engineering program, we highly encourage you to delve into our in-depth articles available through our homepage at https://privacy-engineering-cmu.github.io/.

Author: My name is Aman Priyanshu, you can check out my website for more details or check out my other socials: LinkedIn and Twitter

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