Jason Paladino, a reporter, discusses the FBI's explanations for its Jan. 6 failures. Jeanne Meserve dives deep into the creepy Metaverse with terrorism researchers. The podcast explores the impact of the Metaverse on extremist activities, the FBI's response to the January 6 riots, and the potential risks and threats of virtual reality technology.
The metaverse could become a breeding ground for extremist recruitment and attacks, with tailored advertising and AI making recruitment more effective and the seamless integration of virtual and physical worlds making it difficult to distinguish real people from AI-controlled entities.
To effectively police and regulate the metaverse, discussions among corporations, civil society, and governments are crucial, with a focus on building safeguards, legal frameworks, responsibility for monitoring and enforcing laws, and creating ethical and secure digital environments.
Deep dives
The Metaverse: Potential for Extremist Recruitment and Attacks
The metaverse, a blended digital and physical reality, could provide new opportunities for extremist organizations to recruit and train members, as well as create an entirely new threat landscape. Extremist recruitment could become more customized and effective through tailored advertising and advanced AI. The seamless integration of virtual and physical worlds in the metaverse could make it difficult to distinguish real people from AI-controlled entities, enhancing recruitment efforts. Additionally, the metaverse could become a target for attacks, with extremist groups potentially targeting digital critical infrastructure, sacred spaces, and political institutions. The concept of location-based attacks in the metaverse raises concerns about the planning and execution of violence, as well as the potential for psychological barriers to be overcome through immersive experiences.
Challenges in Policing and Regulating the Metaverse
As the metaverse continues to develop, it raises questions about how to effectively police and regulate the platform. Given the decentralized nature of the metaverse and the infinite ways it can be instantiated, discussions among corporations, civil society, and governments are crucial. Building safeguards into the metaverse from the beginning is important to prevent the exacerbation of polarization, misinformation, and other harmful trends seen on current social media platforms. Considerations such as legal frameworks, responsibility for monitoring and enforcing laws, and creating ethical and secure digital environments must be addressed to govern the metaverse effectively.
Potential Impacts on Society and Critical Infrastructure
The metaverse has the potential to bring about significant changes to society, politics, and economics. As the metaverse evolves, it could lead to the establishment of new forms of critical infrastructure, where governments, banks, and corporations engage with constituents, clients, and customers. Attacks within the metaverse may target critical infrastructure and symbolic spaces, such as sacred places of worship. The blending of physical and digital realities in the metaverse presents challenges, especially with regards to identities, communities, and value systems. Anticipating, understanding, and addressing the second and third-order effects of the metaverse on society are crucial for its constructive and safe development.
The Need for Constructive Engagement and Interdisciplinary Approaches
Emphasizing the importance of constructive engagement and interdisciplinary work, stakeholders must consider the metaverse from technological, psychological, and social science perspectives. Striving for a metaverse that promotes inclusivity, connectivity, and undoing existing polarization is crucial. Addressing the potential threats posed by violent extremism in the metaverse requires collaboration between technology developers, psychologists, researchers, and policymakers. By acknowledging the far-reaching implications of the metaverse and proactively shaping its development, society can navigate this evolving technological landscape more responsibly.
The FBI’s explanations for its Jan. 6 failures don't add up, reporter Jason Paladino tells Jeff Stein. And Jeanne Meserve dives deep into the creepy Metaverse with terrorism researchers at the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center.
Our guests:
Jason Paladino
https://twitter.com/jason_paladino
https://twitter.com/gridnews
The National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education Center
