Activities of Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ related to 2022/2198(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on virtual worlds – opportunities, risks and policy implications for the single market
Amendments (21)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas digitaliszation brings with it a wealth ofcould lead to less bureaucracy while also bringing new opportunities in the fields such as medicine, security, education and law enforcement, and has enormous potential to solve globaleconomy, medicine, education and could contribute to solving problems related to poverty and, inequality; whereas it also offers new possibilities to advance the transition process towards more sustainable and just societie and sustainability, increasing the potential of communication and offering a wide range of analytical tools applicable in all possible sectors;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the digital transformation also entails significant challenges that will force us to review many of themight lead to reviewing concepts and norms that have hitherto underpinned our growth and social progress;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in the EU, awareness of the challenges posed by the accumulation of power by foreign digital giants and of the EU lagging behind in the global digital race have been translated into political and legislative will; whereas the EU institutions have made the digital transition one of their priority areas of action and policy formulation, establishing rules in line with European values and principles and moving away from the path followed by other geographical areacountries such as the United States and China, among others;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the transition to Web 4.0 anddigitalization is at the basis of the Web 4.0 and a key factor in the development of the virtual worlds are an indispensable part of the future of digitisation and a key building block for the completion of the digital single marketwhich should be integrated into the Digital Single Market without compromising it and imposing blockages;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas virtual worlds also entail significant risks affecting, insufficiently known and covered by scientific studies, potentially affecting the health of the end-users and raising challenges regarding the consumer protection and issues related to competition law, privacy and personal data protection, and cybersecurity;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points to the lack of a universally recognised or agreed definition of virtual worlds as well as a lack of policy coordination at national level and considers that further work is needed in order to rectify this;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines the need to make a clear difference between the digital instruments, augmented reality, immersive experiences, virtual reality and other possible emerging technologies, based on strong scientific studies and technical specificities, exploring the need for standardization of the sector;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that a true digital single market can contribute decisively to the development of virtual worlds; considers that a clear and, comprehensive but targeted regulatory framework is of vital importance; highlights and stresses the need to monitor potential fragmentation issues within the digital single market ensuring a level playing field that would allow the harnessing of the full potential of the virtual worlds enabling the economic growth;
Amendment 45 #
5. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to monitor the development of virtual worlds; invites the Commission to draft a report on this subject every two years and to transmit it to Parliament and the Council; asks the Commission to pay attention to the potential emergence of problems in the Web 4.0 that already exist in the Web 3.0, such as the proliferation of fake news, spread of illegal content, infringement of intellectual property rights, cyberterrorism, sexual abuse of minors and cyberbullying, among others; calls the Commission to specially assess of all potential risks for consumers when using virtual worlds and all related technologies and which gaps in EU law exists with the objective to ensure an high level of consumer protection ;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Signals the positive as well as the negative potential impact of the new technologies and products on consumers, on their health, on their social and economic life; notes the growing number and variety of products linked to virtual worlds and economic investments made in the virtual world such us buying virtual assets, avatars and others; highlights the need to have targeted studies and extended consultation with experts in different fields, from economy to psychology to neuro-specialists, in order to develop a legislative framework fit for the purpose.
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Signals also the positive impact that these developments willcould have on employment, including the creation of new jobs in domains such as virtual world architecture or content creation; highlights the importance of promoting the development of appropriate skills to ensure the supply of talented and skilled workers fit for these jobs in the EU, as well as of creating appealing conditions to keep EU talent, attract foreign talent and promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the territory of the EU;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes the possible development of a parallel economy, with different structures and monetary systems as well as the social barriers that might appear in the virtual environment due to the quality of products, the costs and the lack of control and regulations on the possible interactions amongst the participants of different environments;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that most companies leading the development of virtual worlds are established outside the EU; considers that the EU should take the lead in shaping virtual worlds as ecosystems in which European values and principles are respected and promoted, with users at their centre; signals the importance of fostering the creation of a level playing field and an appropriate policy framework that promotes the expansion of European small and medium-sized enterprises, innovation and growth; calls the Commission to engage in a dialogue with like-minded third countries and within the international fora to develop common approaches and to coordinate positions on virtual worlds ;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges that multiple virtual worlds have been developed by different undertakings in the absence of open standardand common standards, regulations and interoperable platforms; considers that interoperability and open standards can contribute to the prevention of quasi- monopolies or abuses of dominant position to the detriment of consumers; welcomes the Commission’s commitment to engage with existing multi-stakeholder internet governance institutions to develop common governance standards and rules; supports the establishment of a technical multi- stakeholder forum for the development of technical standards to ensure interoperable virtual worlds;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to ensure that virtual worlds are open and accessible, contributing to the greater participation of people with disabilities in the new digital transitionenvironment; signals the potential of virtual worlds to increase the participation of people with disabilities in different activities such as virtual tourism, which offer the possibility of visiting virtual places without having to overcome the mobility barriers that traditional tourism requires; warns of the potential challenges that users with disabilities may face in interacting with virtual worlds, arising from inadequate accessibility features or designs that do not cater to their specific needs;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that the debate over the need for the identification of users in virtual worlds should be a priority area in the development process of virtual worlds and that there should be a profound reflection on the possible configuration of this digital realityenvironment, bearing in mind that, in some cases, anonymity may be preferable; points out that anonymity in the digital worldenvironment is always possible under a username (alias), behind which there must always be an individual identifiable only by the competent authorities in case of need ;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates the importance of protecting users’ personal data and privacy; points out that the General Data Protection Regulation3 might not be enough to address theall challenges posed to data protection in virtual worlds; calls for greater attention to be paid to the data protection implications of user-generated content; _________________ 3 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation), OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Underlines the voluntary participation in the virtual world and calls for the Commission to consider installing the right to permanent deletion so that the consumers can request for their data and profile to be erased from any applications, on-line games and virtual environments;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Warns about the potential health problems that may arise from accessing virtual worlds, such as addiction, cybersickness or disturbances in sleep patterns, especially among minors and young people; underlines the need of scientific studies in the case of intrusive new technologies that imply implants or other physical transformation of the consumers in order to access and interact with the virtual environment;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls the potential of virtual worlds to offer unique experiences that can help minors develop their appetite for learning through, for example, learning through play, which can help them to develop skills in collaboration, communication, critical thinking, innovation and confidence; underlines the importance of protecting minors especially from digital addiction ,and also to protect them in virtual worlds, especially against abuse, harassment and bullying;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines to necessity of educational programs to help children and young people adapt to the technological changes and to adopt an healthy and balanced approach combining the traditional social interaction with the time spent in the virtual environment also giving the parents the necessary tools to supervise and take informed decisions when allowing or involving their children in the virtual environment;