In 2024, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA), a member of the Council of Europe’s (CoE) Digital Partnership since 2018, was invited to co-author a joint issues paper on the metaverse and its implications for human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. This marked the first such collaboration between the CoE and an external organization of this nature. The initiative recognized IEEE SA’s prior contributions to CoE initiatives and aimed to leverage its technical expertise in shaping policy-relevant insights. Over 50 IEEE experts and volunteers participated in drafting the report, which was officially launched at the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) — Europe’s counterpart to the global Internet Governance Forum.
The report was designed to assist policymakers across the 46 CoE member states and broader stakeholders in identifying potential governance challenges arising from the development and deployment of metaverse technologies. It serves as a foundational document intended to inform deeper impact assessments and future standardization efforts. An abridged version had been shared in earlier forums and received positive feedback from diverse stakeholders, signaling broad interest in the technical and ethical dimensions of metaverse governance.
In 2025, the Council of Europe initiated a follow-up feasibility study focused specifically on freedom of expression within the metaverse, building directly on the IEEE SA report. The study, held remotely on October 2, 2025, included recommendations for next steps that could lead to formal guidance from the CoE’s Committee of Ministers. IEEE SA represented the standardization community in this expert meeting, emphasizing how technical standards can operationalize the legal frameworks being discussed. The CoE explicitly acknowledged that standards provide the “how” to the “what” defined in legal instruments.
The IEEE-CoE report was repeatedly referenced during the 2025 meeting as a key reference point. Standardization emerged as a central topic of discussion, reflecting growing recognition of its role in supporting policy implementation. The next phase involves potential development of a formal Recommendation by the Committee of Ministers, alongside continued dialogue between the CoE and IEEE SA on how existing or future standards can complement ongoing governance efforts. Further collaboration is expected as the CoE explores how technical standards can support the practical realization of human rights and democratic values in emerging digital environments.
Read the report: The Metaverse and its Impact on Human Rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy