Reimagining Reality: Human Rights and Immersive Technology

This paper will discuss the human rights implications of emergent technology, and focus on virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and immersive technologies. Because of the psychological and physiological aspects of immersive technologies, and the potential for a new invasive class of privacy-related harms, I argue that content creators, hardware producers, and lawmakers should take increased caution to protect users. This will help protect the nascent industry in a changing legal landscape and help ensure that the beneficial uses of this powerful technology outweigh the potential misuses.Proponents of immersive technologies point to the transformational power of the medium. The experience of being in a VR environment for the first time is like stepping into a new world, where the program and head mounted display (HMD) create a digital blank slate for experience. Simply put, it feels real. Benefits like increased human connection, augmented empathy, and new opportunities for education are commonly listed as proof of VR’s potential.2 Critics caution against unfettered optimism and focus on the opportunities for misuse and abuse, like harassment and violations of consumer privacy.