Virtual Reality as an Object of Legal Regulation: The Essence, Threats and Protection Mechanisms

Due to the development of virtual reality technologies, it is an urgent task to develop measures aimed at protecting users from potential information threats. In the context of cross-border relations in virtual reality, Russia’s technological dependence on foreign countries, and the low level of knowledge among citizens in the field of information security, this task becomes especially important. Purpose: to identify the specifics of legal regulation and develop mechanisms for protecting virtual reality users, taking into account the specific features of this technology and current challenges. The study uses methods of system analysis to comprehensively understand the legal nature of virtual reality; comparative legal analysis is used to compare national and foreign legislation, and law enforcement practice; synthesis is used to summarize the theoretical and empirical data obtained in order to form the author’s concept of legal regulation; legal modeling is used to develop proposals for improving current legislation and form effective mechanisms for protecting virtual reality users. Results: the article proposes the author’s concept of the relationship between the concepts of “virtual reality”, “virtual world” and “virtual environment”, according to which the concept of “virtual reality” is specific in relation to the concepts of “virtual environment” and “virtual world”. This approach makes it possible to extend existing norms applicable in other virtual environments to virtual reality. In order to ensure protection of user data, the article proposes amendments to the legislation regulating the turnover of biometric personal data with the aim of protecting unidentified users at the level of identified ones, as well as the introduction of a special form of consent to the processing of personal data. The article notes the need to amend the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation due to the particular danger of cyberbullying and other offenses in virtual reality. Administrative measures to counter information threats are proposed: the introduction of state standards, licensing systems, rapid response protocols, user identification, and a common database of violators. The article highlights the need to actively involve creators, developers, and users of virtual reality in shaping future regulation, creating “regulatory sandboxes”, and improving the knowledge of law enforcement officials and users in the field of information security.