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1
Catalog
Immersive Realities – Benefits and Challenges to Freedom of Expression - Feasibility Study (2025)
Immersive technologies – virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (XR) – are transforming how people communicate, create, and interact. Their unique features of presence, immersion, and embodiment expand the possibilities for freedom of expression, but also introduce new risks to privacy, autonomy, dignity, and democratic participation.
This Council of Europe study examines how Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights applies to expressive conduct in XR. It identifies key challenges, including content and behaviour moderation, biometric data use, symbolic and artistic expression, and the adequacy of existing legal safeguards. The study’s purpose is to assess whether new guidance or instruments are needed to ensure that freedom of expression is effectively protected as immersive realities evolve, and to inform the Council of Europe’s future standardsetting and policy work in this rapidly developing field.
This Council of Europe study examines how Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights applies to expressive conduct in XR. It identifies key challenges, including content and behaviour moderation, biometric data use, symbolic and artistic expression, and the adequacy of existing legal safeguards. The study’s purpose is to assess whether new guidance or instruments are needed to ensure that freedom of expression is effectively protected as immersive realities evolve, and to inform the Council of Europe’s future standardsetting and policy work in this rapidly developing field.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Understanding XR Technologies
4.1 The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
References
1. Introduction
2. Understanding XR Technologies
2.1 Key Technical Features of XR
Hardware Infrastructure
Software and Rendering Technologies
Immersion
Connectivity and Infrastructure
2.2 Key Psychological Features of XR
Presence
Immersion
Embodiment
2.3 Emerging Trends in XR
2.4 Governance Challenges in XR
3. Impacts of XR on Freedom of Expression
3.1 The Importance of Freedom of Expression
3.2 Opportunities for Freedom of Expression
Transforming Creative and Social Expression
Enhancing Civic Engagement
3.3 The Collaborative Creative Potential of XR
Redefining Artistic Mediums
Democratization of Creativity
Uplifting Marginalized Voices
Collaborative Creation
Global Accessibility and Inclusivity
3.4 Risks to Freedom of Expression in XR
Censorship and Content Moderation Challenges
Surveillance and Privacy Risks
Amplification of Immersive Harms
Intellectual Property Complexities in XR
Equality and Accessibility Barriers
Implications for Identity and Self-Expression
Political Expression and Activism in XR
4. Policy and Legal Frameworks Governing XR and Freedom of Expression 4.1 The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Expressive Activities Online
Symbolic or Embodied Expressions
Liabilities of Digital Platforms
Implications for XR Environments
4.2 The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
4.3 Relevant Council of Europe Guidelines and Recommendations
5. Findings and Recommendations References
Immersive technologies – virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (XR) – are transforming how people communicate, create, and interact. Their unique features of presence, immersion, and embodiment expand the possibilities for freedom of expression, but also introduce new risks to privacy, autonomy, dignity, and democratic participation.
This Council of Europe study examines how Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights applies to expressive conduct in XR. It identifies key challenges, including content and behaviour moderation, biometric data use, symbolic and artistic expression, and the adequacy of existing legal safeguards. The study’s purpose is to assess whether new guidance or instruments are needed to ensure that freedom of expression is effectively protected as immersive realities evolve, and to inform the Council of Europe’s future standardsetting and policy work in this rapidly developing field.
This Council of Europe study examines how Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights applies to expressive conduct in XR. It identifies key challenges, including content and behaviour moderation, biometric data use, symbolic and artistic expression, and the adequacy of existing legal safeguards. The study’s purpose is to assess whether new guidance or instruments are needed to ensure that freedom of expression is effectively protected as immersive realities evolve, and to inform the Council of Europe’s future standardsetting and policy work in this rapidly developing field.