The Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) has released a new working paper examining the rise of immersive technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and haptics, highlighting both their potential benefits and the risks they pose to consumers and society.
DP-REG, which brings together the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), and the eSafety Commissioner, said the technologies are reshaping how Australians engage with digital content. While immersive technologies open doors to innovation in education, healthcare, retail, and entertainment, they also raise serious challenges in areas including privacy, consumer protection, competition, and online safety.
The report noted that immersive technologies can enhance experiences in powerful ways—from medical students practicing complex surgeries to consumers trying on clothes virtually. However, the hyper-realistic and interactive nature of these tools may also heighten risks, such as emotional manipulation, data misuse, exposure to scams, and online harms. Vulnerable groups, including children and people at risk of gambling or gender-based abuse, face particular threats.
Another concern is the convergence of immersive tools with generative AI, which could compound risks across multiple regulatory domains. “Immersive technologies can intensify psychological impacts while creating new avenues for exploitation,” the paper warned.
DP-REG emphasized that existing laws on privacy, consumer rights, competition, and online safety already apply to companies deploying immersive technologies in Australia. Regulators pledged to continue monitoring domestic and international developments, pointing to the eSafety Commissioner’s updated May 2025 position statement as part of ongoing efforts to build safeguards.
The paper concluded that immersive technologies could deliver significant benefits for Australians, but their risks must be fully understood and mitigated to ensure a safe and competitive digital economy.
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