Brussels, 31 March 2025
Today, the Commission has released the ‘Virtual Worlds Toolbox‘, an online resource to help citizens navigate virtual environments. It explains how virtual worlds work and outlines citizens’ rights within the EU. The toolbox covers working, learning, and gaming in virtual spaces, and includes guidance on safety, cybersecurity, and protection against disinformation.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, said:
Our ‘Virtual Worlds Toolbox’ represents a new step forward in empowering people to navigate, understand, and explore these new digital spaces. Everyone should have access to the knowledge and resources they need to make the most of virtual worlds while staying safe.
These online resources are part of the 2023 EU Strategy on Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, that guides digital transformation while ensuring an open inclusive and secure online space for EU citizens, businesses, and public administrations. Education, awareness, and digital skills are central to the 23 recommendations by the European Citizens’ Panel on Virtual Worlds. The Virtual Worlds Toolbox brings these recommendations to life by offering accessible guidance and practical tools for all users.
Its launch coincides with the Global Multistakeholder High-Level Conference on the Governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds. The conference, co-organised by the Commission and the Polish Presidency, brings together global experts to discuss principle for the governance of emerging digital spaces.
You can find more information online.
Virtual Worlds Toolbox
The Virtual Worlds Toolbox for the general public is a living project that gives an insight into how virtual worlds work and provides information about existing rights within the EU.
The Virtual Worlds Toolbox was created as a response to the recommendations put forward by the European Citizen’s panel during a consultation process for developing the EU strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. The Citizens’ Panel on Virtual Worlds allowed citizens to make recommendations on the values and actions needed to create attractive, safe and fair European virtual worlds.
The Citizen’s panel recommendations support the Commission’s work on virtual worlds and the future of the internet. They are structured around eight values and principles: freedom of choice, sustainability, human-centered approach, health, education, safety and security, transparency and inclusion.
In this Toolbox, you will get information on what you are likely to find in all virtual worlds, and on what to look out for when you visit virtual worlds for your safety and of other travellers.
What are virtual worlds?
“Virtual worlds are persistent, immersive environments, based on technologies including 3D and extended reality (XR), which make it possible to blend physical and digital worlds in real-time, for a variety of purposes such as designing, making simulations, collaborating, learning, socialising, carrying out transactions or providing entertainment.” – EU initiative on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.
The term ‘virtual world’ does not refer to a particular platform of technology. Virtual worlds come in many shapes and forms, and they are just as different as the different countries around the globe. Some virtual worlds deliberately copy aspects of the physical world, others make up an entire new environment and architecture. Virtual worlds are continuously developing, improving and changing, making use of new technology or devices.
We may visit these virtual worlds for business or pleasure, and we may never be able to visit or even get to know all aspects of a virtual world just like in real life as a traveller.
In the same way that you consider what you need for your travels in the physical world, you also need to consider what you need for your travels in virtual worlds in cyberspace. Through this Toolbox, we will help you prepare your journey by giving ideas on what to bring with you and what to be aware of in those new virtual environments.
This Toolbox does not give advice for specific situations neither does it hold all the answers as some future situations are not yet known. As travellers in a rapidly evolving and changing environment such as virtual worlds, we always need to be wary and reach out for advice or help as we would do in the real world. Let’s start this journey together!
Virtual worlds journey