Digital body, identity and privacy in social virtual reality: A systematic review

This article reviews the privacy and identity protection issues in Social Virtual Reality (SVR), specifically focusing on digital bodies (avatars).

Overview

Authors: Jinghuai Lin, Marc Erich Latoschik

Publication Date: 16 November 2022

Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2022.974652/full

Keywords: digital bodies, identity theft, privacy breaches, avatar security, user authentication, online safety, interdisciplinary research, surveillance risks, data protection, social engineering

Type: Peer-Reviewed Journals/White Papers

Summary

This article reviews the privacy and identity protection issues in Social Virtual Reality (SVR), specifically focusing on digital bodies (avatars). While personalized avatars can enhance social interactions, they raise concerns about identity theft and privacy breaches. The review identifies 49 relevant papers, highlights gaps in research, and calls for interdisciplinary collaboration to address these issues. Despite some progress in user authentication, practical solutions remain limited, and future research is needed to safeguard users' identities in SVR.