International Law and Virtual Worlds: Towards a Legal Framework for Regulating Metaverse

Hamzah, Qasim Madhi; Omran, Hani Abdullah

doi:10.37651/aujlps.2025.167423.1696

	International Law and Virtual Worlds: Towards a Legal Framework for Regulating Metaverse
Journal of Anbar University for Law and Political Sciences
Article 29, Volume 16, Issue: 3, September 2026, Pages 862-884 PDF (812.85 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.37651/aujlps.2025.167423.1696
Authors
Qasim Madhi Hamzah^* ¹; Hani Abdullah Omran²
¹Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University Technical Institute of Babylon 51015 Babylon , Iraq Department of Legal Management Techniques
²Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University Technical Institute of Babylon 51015 Babylon , Iraq Department of Legal Management Techniques
Abstract
The world of metaviruses is still evolving and lacks a comprehensive and specific international legal framework. However, several legal systems and international principles can be applied to it or used as a basis for its regulation. Although there is no single international law convention that regulates information and communication technologies specifically related to the regulation of metaviruses, a set of principles applies to the use of technology. These include the principles stipulated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which regulates technical and communication aspects, as well as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which obligate companies to respect the rights of users in virtual environments. With the emergence of metaviruses, new legal challenges have arisen concerning the determination of international responsibility for harmful acts committed within them, in light of the rules of international law. This study discusses the most important of these legal challenges.
Keywords
Metaverse; virtual worlds; international law; international responsibility

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