The Commission’s new Web4 and virtual worlds policy guides the next technological transition as it ensures an open, secure, trustworthy, fair, and inclusive digital environment for EU citizens, enterprises, and public agencies
The internet is undergoing a rapid transformation. Beyond the third generation of the internet, Web3, which is currently in development and is characterized by openness, decentralization, and user empowerment, the fourth generation, Web4, will enable the integration of digital and natural objects and environments, as well as improved interactions between humans and machines.
The EU economy’s outlook beyond 2030, published in March, emphasizes digitalization as one of its primary drivers and Web4 as a significant technological transition that will create a seamlessly interconnected, intelligent, and immersive world. The global virtual worlds market is anticipated to expand from €27 billion in 2022 to over €800 billion by 2030.
There are both opportunities and hazards that must be considered as virtual worlds will influence how individuals coexist. The new strategy is designed to create Web4 and virtual worlds that reflect the values and principles of the EU, where the rights of individuals are fully enforced, and European enterprises can flourish.
Primary strategic components
The strategy is consistent with the 2030 objectives of the Digital Decade policy program and three of its primary pillars of digitalization: business, public services, and skills.
The Commission’s connectivity package and its broader initiatives regarding computing, cloud, and periphery capacities are designed to address the fourth pillar, infrastructures. It also addresses virtual worlds’ openness and global governance and Web 4.0 as specific action vectors.
Fostering awareness, access to reliable information, and the development of a talent pool of virtual world specialists by empowering individuals and reinforcing their abilities.
The Commission will advance the guiding principles for virtual worlds, as the Citizens’ Panel proposed, by the conclusion of 2023.
Additionally, the Commission will guide the general public through a “Citizen toolbox” by the first quarter of 2024.
In light of the necessity of virtual world specialists, the Commission will collaborate with Member States to establish a talent pipeline and provide support for the development of skills, including those of women and girls, through projects funded by the Digital Europe Programme and for creators of digital content through the Creative Europe program.
Business: fostering a European industrial ecosystem that is Web4-ready to enhance excellence and resolve fragmentation. Currently, no EU ecosystem unites the various stakeholders in the value chain of virtual worlds and Web4.
The Commission has suggested a candidate Partnership on Virtual Worlds under Horizon Europe, which could commence in 2025. This partnership aims to promote excellence in research and establish an industrial and technological roadmap for virtual worlds.
To encourage innovation, the Commission will also assist EU creators and media companies in testing new creation tools, fostering collaboration between developers and industrial users, and collaborating with Member States to establish regulatory sandboxes for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.
Government: facilitating societal advancement and virtual public services to capitalize on the potential of virtual worlds.
The European Union is currently investing in significant initiatives, including the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, Local Digital Twins for intelligent communities, and Destination Earth (DestinE), to enable researchers to advance science, industries to develop precision applications, and public authorities to make informed public-policy decisions.
The Commission is introducing two new public flagships: The European Virtual Human Twin, which will replicate the human body to support clinical decisions and personal treatment, and “CitiVerse,” an immersive urban environment that can be used for city planning and management.
They are establishing global standards for open and interoperable virtual worlds and Web 4.0 to prevent their dominance by a small number of significant participants.
The Commission will collaborate with stakeholders in internet governance worldwide and will advocate for Web 4.0 standards consistent with the EU’s vision and principles.
Context
The strategy is based on the European Commission’s work on virtual worlds and consultations with citizens, academia, and businesses. Between February and April 2023, the Commission convened a European Citizens’ Panel on Virtual Worlds.
The panel invited 150 randomly selected citizens to develop recommendations on a vision, principles, and actions to guarantee that virtual worlds in the EU are equitable and suitable for human use.
Their 23 recommendations have served as the foundation for the strategy on virtual worlds and Web 4.0, which includes specific actions.
The Virtual and Augmented Reality Industrial coalition, which unites policymakers and industry representatives, was established by the European Commission on September 14, 2022.
Additionally, a recent report released by the Joint Research Centre offers a comprehensive examination of the potential benefits of next-generation virtual worlds in various sectors, including manufacturing, education, public services, and health.