Ellysse Dick

AR/VR technologies have transformative potential in everything from entertainment and communication to workforce development and education. But they also raise unique considerations on issues that policymakers are grappling with in relation to other technologies, such as privacy, safety, security, and equity.

Following in the footsteps of Snap’s Spectacles and Amazon’s Echo Frames, Facebook’s newly announced Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses are the latest effort to transition digital communications from handheld devices to wearable displays.

AR/VR solutions can enhance classroom experiences and expand opportunities at all levels of learning. The federal government should support further innovation by investing in research, skill-building, content development, and equitable adoption of immersive technologies.

Attracting foreign investment is a key component of many countries’ economic development strategies. AR/VR solutions can help the process by providing engaging storytelling tools, helping to visualize potential investments, and reducing the need for in-person meetings and site visits.

AR/VR has the potential to make both digital and non-digital services more inclusive and equitable. To achieve that goal, industry leaders and policymakers should take steps to mitigate potential unintended consequences.

To maximize the benefits of AR/VR technologies, developers, policymakers, and organizations implementing them should consider a variety of user needs from the outset. Government should lead by example as an early adopter of inclusive AR/VR, and it should and establish standards and best practices for equity and inclusion in immersive experiences across sectors.

AR/VR can make important contributions to equity and inclusion if it is designed with these goals in mind. It can serve as a tool to help tackle implicit biases, improve access to opportunities, and create new channels for communication, community, and collaboration across distances.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has quickly transformed from an obscure law known mostly to tech policy experts to a regular feature in public debates and policy discussions. What is this brief, 25-year-old law making headlines, and how could reforming or repealing it impact our daily lives?

Transatlantic data flows are essential to organizations of all sizes and industries—not just large technology firms. The EU and United States must establish clear, consistent legal mechanisms for data transfers so both sides can thrive in an increasingly digital global economy.

AR/VR devices create novel issues for user privacy due to the scope, scale, and sensitivity of the information they collect. To mitigate harms, policymakers should reform the current patchwork regulatory landscape for data privacy, which fails to address some risks while over-regulating in response to others.

The shift to mass distance learning has underscored the need for schools to adopt educational technology that allows students to learn independently, whether at home or in the classroom, as well as to stay engaged. Augmented and virtual reality have the potential to meet these needs, but only if federal and state governments make targeted investments in these technologies.

The United States has been a leader in AR/VR innovation. To maintain this position going forward, the Biden administration should prioritize AR/VR alongside other emerging technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence.

Through a series of expert talks and panels, this half-day conference organized by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the XR Association explored the role of policy in AR/VR innovation and identified priority areas for policymakers to consider as these technologies continue to expand.

ITIF released a new report and hosted a conversation with experts and industry leaders in AR/VR to discuss what unique privacy risks these technologies raise, how AR/VR providers are mitigating these concerns, and how existing and proposed privacy laws and regulations will impact AR/VR technologies.