European Commission Adopts Strategy for Web 4.0, Virtual Worlds

The European Commission adopted a strong strategy for Web 4.0 and the virtual worlds, aka metaverse, to ensure an open, secure, trustworthy, fair, inclusive digital environment, and metaverse for EU citizens, businesses, and public administrations.

In a press release, the European Commission said the new strategy comes in line with the current development of Web3 whose main features are openness, decentralization, and user full empowerment, pointing out that the next generation, Web 4.0, will enhance the integration between digital and real objects and environments and interactions between humans and machines.

The European Commission noted that its new strategy is consistent with the 2030 objectives of the Digital Decade policy program and three of its key pillars of digitalization: skills, business, and public services in addition to addressing openness and global governance of virtual worlds and Web 4.0 as a specific strands of action.

The EU Commission showed its commitment to supporting creators and media companies in the EU region to test new creation tools, bring together developers and industrial users, and work with Member States to develop regulatory sandboxes for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.

In this regard, Executive Vice-President for Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager said: “The Web 4.0 and virtual worlds will bring benefits for health, contribute to the green transition and better anticipate natural disasters. But we need to have people at the center and shape it according to our EU digital rights and principles, to address the risks regarding privacy or disinformation. We want to make sure Web 4.0 becomes an open, secure, trustworthy, fair, and inclusive digital environment for all.”

The commission also added that it would work with internet governance stakeholders around the world and promote Web 4.0 standards in line with the EU’s vision and values.