CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE METAVERSE: A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THREATS AND DIRECTIONS FOR LEGAL REGULATION

Abstract

The rapid convergence of virtual and augmented reality technologies, distributed ledgers, wearable sensors, and generative artificial intelligence is shaping a new sociotechnical space — the Metaverse, which, according to analyst agencies, is capable of growing from tens of billions of dollars in 2021-2023. to several trillion dollars in the mid-2030s. Simultaneously with the economic potential, this convergence gives rise to qualitatively new cybersecurity challenges that go beyond traditional models of information protection, as they relate not only to data, but also to the bodily experience, identity and psychological integrity of the user. Based on a systematic analysis of specialized scientific literature, industry reports and empirical studies, the article classifies cybersecurity threats in the Metaverse environment in five areas: technical and infrastructure, identification and authentication, data privacy, socio-behavioral and algorithmic-legal. The specifics of threats in the healthcare segment are analyzed, empirical data on the public perception of the responsibility of automated agents for the damage caused are considered, and a comparative legal analysis of the approaches of the European Union and Ukraine to the regulation of high-risk artificial intelligence systems is carried out. Based on the results of the study, a set of areas for improving national legislation is proposed, including the adaptation of a risk-based approach, the development of a three-class model of legal personality of artificial intelligence systems and the introduction of cross-border digital jurisdiction mechanisms.