Immersive technologies such as virtual, augmented and mixed reality (XR) are increasingly shaping how individuals communicate, express themselves, interact with public authorities and participate in democratic life. While these technologies offer new opportunities for creativity, inclusion and participation, they also raise emerging challenges for human rights, democratic values and the rule of law.

Building on the 2023 Council of Europe- IEEE report on the Metaverse and the Feasibility Study on Freedom of Expression in Immersive Realities adopted by the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), this conference is conceived as a concrete follow-up to one of the study’s key conclusions: the need to continue and strengthen the Council of Europe’s alerting and awareness-raising function vis-à-vis member States at a stage when immersive technologies are still evolving.

The conference also contributes to the consultation process towards a New Democratic Pact, by addressing how emerging technologies may affect democratic participation, trust in information spaces, inclusion, human dignity and the effective enjoyment of human rights.

Through an innovative and forward-looking format, the conference aims to raise awareness, deepen understanding and support anticipatory action on the human rights implications of immersive realities.

It brings together policy and legal perspectives from the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights with interdisciplinary research contributions selected through an European Metaverse Research Network (EMRN)-led Call for Papers, linking institutional expertise, academic research and practical experience. Particular attention is given to the participation of young researchers and emerging voices.

The conference fosters cross-sectoral dialogue within the Council of Europe on themes already addressed in CDMSI work, including freedom of expression, children’s rights, justice, non-discrimination, bioethics and health, and complements this with an experiential dimension through XR demonstrations. These hands-on sessions will allow participants, including policymakers and diplomats, to directly engage with immersive technologies and better understand their embodied and societal impact, supporting informed discussion and policy-relevant reflection.

• Symbolic, artistic and embodied expression through avatars, behaviour and virtual environments
• Content and behavioural moderation, proportionality and legitimate aims in XR
• Surveillance, biometric data and potential chilling effects on expression
• Responsibilities of states and private actors in immersive spaces
• Continuity and adaptation of freedom of expression principles across media

• Child protection and embodiment in XR
• Risks of harassment, exploitation and harmful behavioural influence
• Design choices, age-appropriate environments and safety-by-design
• Literacy, awareness and empowerment of children, caregivers and educators
• Intersection with anti-discrimination and gender equality concerns

• Perception, memory and evidentiary challenges in XR
• Virtual evidence, deep fakes and procedural safeguards
• Jurisdiction, liability and responsibility in cross-border immersive environments
• The role of courts, prosecutors and judicial actors in addressing harms in XR

• XR in healthcare and therapeutic contexts
• Mental health, addiction risks and user autonomy
• Ethical boundaries of AI-supported immersive applications
• Long-term societal impacts of immersive technologies on well-being

Freedom of Expression in Immersive Realities

Children's Rights, Safety and Protection of Vulnerable Users

Justice, Law and Jurisdiction in Immersive Environments

Health, Ethics and Well-Being in XR

Freedom of Expression in Immersive Realities

Children's Rights, Safety and Protection of Vulnerable Users

Justice, Law and Jurisdiction in Immersive Environments

Health, Ethics and Well-Being in XR

Freedom of Expression in Immersive Realities

Health, Ethics and Well-Being in XR