The state of New South Wales has commissioned a metaverse research to better understand the opportunities and regulatory dangers that shared virtual worlds present.
The Gradient Institute, a Sydney-based research and advocacy organisation, will lead the study, with backing from the Department of Customer Service.
The Gradient Institute previously collaborated with digital.nsw, the department’s digital arm, to create the government’s AI ethical policy.
The research report was announced by DCS secretary Emma Hogan at the future.nsw conference in Sydney on Monday, and the results will be presented later this year.
“Over the next several months, we’ll be collaborating with the Gradient Institute on a study on what government services and transactions might look like in the metaverse,” she said.
Hogan said the report would also look at what “should government consider when it comes to regulation,” which she called the “more significant” aspect at this point.
“While it is going to be predominantly a federal obligation,” she said, “we believe it is critical that NSW has a voice in this, and that we are clear on what that voice should be.”
In March, digital minister Victor Dominello met with Gradient Institute executive director Dr. Catriona Wallace for the first time in the metaverse.
“As the metaverse evolves, a new universe of potential will open,” he said, adding that cities such as Seoul, South Korea, are already aiming to make public services and cultural events available.
By the end of 2022, Seoul is expected to have set aside 3.9 billion won ($A4.3 billion) to establish its own metaverse platform.
