Tech Talk: Bill McGee Authorities are waging an uphill battle with tech giants over regulation of the cyber world
Big Tech’s refusal of Interpol on how best to monitor the new virtual world of the Metaverse doesn’t bode well. European law enforcement agencies have met with the likes of Meta and Microsoft to raise one pressing issue on their agenda. It’s about agreeing on an early 3D playground, specifically one that defines and governs artificial intelligence. However, the meeting did not end well.
INTERPOL is stepping up its efforts to stay ahead of global technological innovation, avoid its exploitation and prevent a new era of cybercrime. It was hoped that the result would be in line with Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s aspirations for an open Internet. The World Wide Web founder has been working as a director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for several years and has his vision to finally achieve this goal through his latest Web 3.
But just as the original WWW didn’t do what he expected, the 3rd Generation Web, along with the concept of the Metaverse, has already violated the cyber law of unintended consequences.
Interpol has been told in no uncertain terms that each big tech company plans its own commercial-driven, strictly siled approach to delivering its version of the virtual playground. Each of the elite groups claimed to cooperate with regulators, but in their own ways.
This was not surprising. As big tech companies scramble for an ever-expanding slice of the trillion-dollar global tech market, one chunk of the metaverse will erode overall revenue.
Forbes warns that the emergence of an unknown number of metaverses presents a complex set of regulatory challenges, urging concept builders to take aggressive action now.
One thing is certain. The metaverse as an entity is inevitable and seen as the next step in the evolution of the Internet.
Initially reliant on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets, it will eventually be available on computers and mobile phones. Open all year round. That’s when AI really shines.
Each big tech company hopes to reverse the effects of a slowdown in global advertising spending that has had a devastating impact on their bottom line.
how? By achieving record sales in chat, visual creation tools, and a plethora of generative AI agents for multimodal devices and services, in addition to dedicated Metaverse usage.
Andrew Staniforth, an international disaster management expert working with the European Commission, is committed to combating and eliminating online uncertainty, disinformation and terrorist content while helping victims. points to a new EU regulation aimed at
In “Policing Insight,” he points out that such cybercrime campaigns can affect public health, the environment and security, and cause tension and violence.
Organized crime groups (OCGs) are busy expanding their operations. “The AI arms race between cats and rats has begun,” claims his trainer, formerly of Jane’s Police Review’s Anti-Terrorism Online.
Forced to follow legal and ethical standards and regulations, he warns, authorities “always have their enemies behind them.” This gap is widening.”
Despite Interpol’s kickback, the EU’s new regulatory arm, ECAT, will subject big tech to an annual audit under the Digital Services Act. Rule violators can be fined up to 6% of annual global turnover.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has boldly argued that IT companies “will not be able to act like they are too big to care”.
We have been here before. Think antitrust laws.
Big Tech’s ability to counter regulatory moves is something of a cyber legend, with lawsuits likely to last for months, if not years, and the ultimate outcome is never certain.
How can a single company expect to cope with such global uncertainty? It’s time to enlist the help of outside IT experts. Pronto.
This column is supported by digital transformation companies exception
Related
