Digital body, identity and privacy in social virtual reality: A systematic review

Social Virtual Reality (social VR or SVR) provides digital spaces for diverse human activities, social interactions, and embodied face-to-face encounters. While our bodies in SVR can general be of almost any conceivable appearance, individualized even personalized avatars bearing users’ likeness recently became an interesting research topic. Such show a great potential to enhance the authenticity citizens increase trustworthiness interpersonal interaction. However, using such might expose users privacy identity issues as theft: For instance, how do we know whether encounter virtual world are who they claim be? Safeguarding identities privacy, preventing harm from infringement, crucial future VR. This article systematic review on protection VR, with specific focus bodies. Based 814 sources, identified analyzed 49 papers that either: 1) discuss raise concerns about addressed issues, 2) provide technologies solutions protecting bodies, 3) examine relationship between citizens. We notice severe lack attention topic identify several gaps need filled. some legal ethical have been raised, despite progress areas user authentication has made, little proposed practical solutions. Finally, suggest directions body include relevant insights. hope this work could good overview existing discussion, solutions, researchers similar concerns. also wish draw call interdisciplinary collaboration.