I
nterest in and development of the emerging “metaverse” has grown markedly,
raising questions around what it entails and why it is relevant for a variety of
social, economic, and security issues. The answers to these questions can have
significant implications for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Regardless of precise definitions, metaverses offer both opportunities and
potential threats for DHS and for society more broadly.
1
However, an emerging
technology, such as the metaverse, can often reflect a technology push, whereby
products are first developed in the private sector simply with an eye toward exciting
new capabilities and profits, rather than responding to a technology pull that reflects
specific user needs (Marler, 2022). This can obfuscate threats and opportunities
and stifle appropriate management. Although a multifaceted technology might, in
fact, respond to specific needs, it might also still have aspects that emerge without
aligning to any goal. This, of course, can foster innovation, but it can also result in
hollow hype (Jones, 2022; Vinsel and Funk, 2022). The metaverse is no exception.
As various technologies and capabilities associated with metaverses mature, users
TIMOTHY MARLER, ZARA FATIMA ABDURAHAMAN, BENJAMIN BOUDREAUX, TIMOTHY R. GULDEN
The Metaverse and
HomelandSecurity
Opportunities and Risks of Persistent Virtual Environments
C O R P O R A T I O N
Perspective
EXPERT INSIGHTS ON A TIMELY POLICY ISSUE
May 2023
