Metaverse Safety Week 2024 ran as a five-day online forum from December 10–14, 2024, each day from 9:00 AM–12:30 PM PST / 5:00–8:30 PM GMT, under the theme “Embrace Change.” The online format offered live sessions, social interactions, and on-demand content to accommodate diverse interests and schedules. https://metaversesafetyweek.org/agenda/
Day 1, December 10, marked International Human Rights Day with a session on “Human Rights and Innovation: Finding the Balance in an Open Metaverse,” held in recognition of the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The discussion examined how open-source frameworks affect privacy, freedom of expression, and security in immersive spaces, and explored the need for evolving rights — including emerging “neurorights” — to address new technological challenges.
Day 2, December 11, focused on Immersive Healthcare under the theme “Essential Change in Healthcare Systems,” co-hosted with XRSI’s medical division. The session looked at how immersive technologies are reshaping patient care, medical training, and therapeutic interventions, while raising questions about data privacy, security, and equitable access to interconnected health ecosystems.
Day 3, December 12, centered on Youth Empowerment with the theme “Empowering the New Generation in Virtual Worlds.” The session explored how to help young people become responsible creators and critical thinkers in immersive spaces, emphasizing digital literacy, multi-disciplinary education, and co-design approaches that give youth a direct role in shaping the technology they use.
Day 4, December 13, addressed Education and Training under the theme “Innovative Approaches to Immersive Learning.” Discussions covered how immersive environments can democratize access to education and training, breaking down barriers for diverse learners while helping organizations deliver more effective corporate training programs.
Day 5, December 14, closed the week with Governance and Policy, themed “Policy and Governance Implications of Open Foundation AI Models.” The session tackled the standards, policies, and shared responsibilities needed as open foundation AI models enter the metaverse — weighing their potential to democratize technology against risks like misinformation, privacy exposure, and governance complexity.