Adding artificial intelligence (AI) to the metaverse opens up a huge range of options for better security, seamless communication, and immersive experiences. So, the metaverse is safer and more open to everyone because AI can be used to find threats in real time, make user experiences more personalized, and make smart virtual helpers. But, as the IEEE study "Artificial Intelligence-Based Cybersecurity for the Metaverse" points out, relying too much on AI can be very bad for your privacy. The respected IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is known for its technical standards and research. This gives its study of AI's role in metaverse security more weight. Even though they back AI-driven solutions, the writers don't give privacy concerns enough weight, especially when it comes to biometric data and monitoring. Notably, the collection of biological data, the intrusiveness of AI-based tracking, and the limitations of suggested privacy-preserving methods raise more important questions than they answer.
The article brings up one of the most important questions that needs to be answered right away (Page 15, Paragraph 2). It talks about how privacy is naturally at risk in the metaverse because a lot of personal information is collected and processed, such as fingerprints and behavior patterns. The metaverse can copy physical interactions and collect personal data about users, like their location, movement patterns, and emotional reactions through face tracking and voice analysis. This raises the risk of illegal access and data abuse. Artificial intelligence is sometimes seen as a way to protect against hacking, but it also comes with risks. AI models may be able to look at how people use technology in ways that aren't possible with traditional tracking methods. This means that people are being watched in ways that make privacy risks much greater. The paper talks about these risks, but it does so mostly in an academic way, without any real-world data to show that these problems can be completely fixed. This makes me wonder if the problem is a lot more difficult than the solutions suggested. The huge amount of data collected makes customers vulnerable to identity theft and use by both companies and bad people, even if cybersecurity rules change.
The collection of biological data (Page 15, Paragraph 3) makes privacy problems even worse. The metaverse relies on biometric data, like facial expressions, voice patterns, and even emotional reactions, to make the experience more real. But hackers are interested in these sensitive data points, and they also make me worry about user control and permission. The paper tries to put the issue in an analytical light and make it clear why collecting this kind of information is a privacy risk. But it doesn't fully deal with the fact that genetic data can't be fixed once it's been stolen. Biometric features can't be changed like passwords can. Because of this, any loss is permanent and terrible. So, users are taking a big risk because getting the wrong care or having their personal data leaked could have effects that last a lifetime.
Also, the metaverse's AI-powered tracking and surveillance skills make user privacy even more at risk (Page 15, Paragraph 5). The paper talks about how AI can be used to profile and spy on users without their permission, which makes people wonder about the legality of constant spying. This ability adds new levels of risk because businesses may collect and profile data in an illegal way and make money from it, as well as bad people using data. Artificial intelligence has a double-edged effect on security: it makes it easier to keep an eye on bad behavior while also letting people be tracked in ways that could easily violate people's privacy. The paper talks about these risks, but it doesn't give many practical ways to stop this kind of bothersome behavior. The metaverse could become a place where people give up their privacy in exchange for access, similar to problems that people have had with other digital platforms but on a much worse level.
Because of these problems, the study suggests homomorphic encryption as a possible solution (Page 16, Paragraph 1). In theory, homomorphic encryption protects privacy by letting calculations be done on data that is encrypted. In theory, this way sounds good, but processing overhead and latency issues mean that it can't be used widely yet. It's possible that homomorphic encryption won't be fast enough for real-time exchanges in the metaverse. This makes me wonder if the metaverse can meet strict privacy rules and provide a great experience for users at the same time.
The paper also says that cancelable biometrics and differential privacy are workable alternatives that protect privacy through biometrics (Page 16, Paragraph 2). These methods can help protect privacy, but they also add to the difficulty of things.