ABSTRACT
In this paper, we look at the latest developments in the field of online virtual realities, with particular focus on “metaverses”. Within this field, we aim to describe potential interactions with emotion recognition and manipulation technologies. The article points out how these technologies can generate new threats to human and individual rights. Moreover, it covers how already existing uses of these technologies can become increasingly worrying in the context of metaverses. Finally, we look at existing legal and technical protections; we focus on their success and their shortcomings and how they can be improved in order to adapt to these new technologies. Our research question was: how can emotion recognition and manipulation technology be used and/or abused in the context of a metaverse?