Introduction:
As the intersection between our physical world and digital information continues to blur, Extended Reality (XR) — encompassing Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) — presents both opportunities and challenges. It is essential that we develop a framework rooted in human values to ensure that as we move forward, our humanity is not only preserved but enhanced through the possibilities XR offers. This manifesto serves as a guiding document outlining key principles that should underpin the development and implementation of Extended Reality technologies.
- Human Dignity and Respect: XR applications must respect the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace.
- Privacy and Data Protection: XR technologies must be designed to safeguard users’ personal data and privacy, ensuring that data collection and storage are transparent and consensual.
- Digital Literacy and Education: Efforts must be made to educate individuals and communities on the potential risks and benefits of XR, cultivating a digitally literate society that can critically engage with these technologies.
- Accessibility and Inclusivity: XR must be developed with a universal design approach, ensuring accessibility for individuals of all abilities and promoting diverse representation in virtual spaces.
- Physical and Psychological Well-being: The development of XR should prioritize the physical and psychological health of users, and offer mechanisms to identify and alleviate negative impacts on mental health.
- Ethical Content Creation: Content creators must be encouraged to develop ethical content that does not perpetuate violence, discrimination, or misinformation, and that fosters positive societal values.
- Environmental Responsibility: XR technology development should consider the environmental impact, and strive for sustainability in production, distribution, and disposal processes.
- Ownership and Intellectual Property: Users’ rights to their creations in virtual spaces must be respected, and clear policies must be established regarding intellectual property and content ownership.
- Freedom of Expression and Creativity: XR should be a platform that allows freedom of expression and fosters creativity, while balancing this with the responsibility to prevent harm.
- Collaborative Governance and Accountability: Governments, industry, and civil society should collaboratively establish governance structures for XR that are transparent, accountable, and responsive to societal needs.
By adhering to these principles, we can cultivate a future in which Extended Reality not only revolutionizes our interaction with the digital world but does so in a manner that upholds and enriches our shared human values.