Article: Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse Journal: International Journal of Web Based Communities (IJWBC) 2026 Vol.22 No.5 pp.1 - 32 Abstract: Digital identity in the metaverse extends beyond authentication to include avatars, personas, credentialing systems, IoT-mediated traces, and relational data generated through immersive interaction. This paper develops a framework for analysing these identity dimensions and applies it to three workshop-based scenarios: social media influencing, corporate XR work, and public-private healthcare. The findings show that immersive environments blur boundaries between public and private life, intensify datafication, and shift power and value toward platforms, employers, and infrastructure providers. These dynamics expose the limits of governance models based mainly on consent, transparency, and fixed distinctions between personal and sensitive data. Because responsibility is distributed across multiple actors, accountability becomes difficult to assign, while existing regulatory tools struggle to address harms to autonomy, privacy, dignity, and identity formation. The paper argues for rights-centred, socio-technical governance based on value-sensitive design, human rights impact assessments, transnational coordination, and stronger user participation and oversight. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse

Authors: Nishant Anand; Bidyut Hazarika

Addresses: Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, University College London, London WC1E 6JA, UK ' Department of Business Information Systems, Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5412, USA; Department of Innovation, The Business School, RMIT Vietnam, 702 Nguyen Van Linh Blvd., District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract: Digital identity in the metaverse extends beyond authentication to include avatars, personas, credentialing systems, IoT-mediated traces, and relational data generated through immersive interaction. This paper develops a framework for analysing these identity dimensions and applies it to three workshop-based scenarios: social media influencing, corporate XR work, and public-private healthcare. The findings show that immersive environments blur boundaries between public and private life, intensify datafication, and shift power and value toward platforms, employers, and infrastructure providers. These dynamics expose the limits of governance models based mainly on consent, transparency, and fixed distinctions between personal and sensitive data. Because responsibility is distributed across multiple actors, accountability becomes difficult to assign, while existing regulatory tools struggle to address harms to autonomy, privacy, dignity, and identity formation. The paper argues for rights-centred, socio-technical governance based on value-sensitive design, human rights impact assessments, transnational coordination, and stronger user participation and oversight.

Keywords: metaverse; digital identity; eID; governance; human rights.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2026.154989

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2026 Vol.22 No.5, pp.1 - 32

Received: 15 Jul 2025
Accepted: 20 May 2026
Published online: 21 Jul 2026 *

Title: Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse

Keep up-to-date