Emerging and Disruptive Technologies: The Metaverse. Implications on Global Security

This paper analyzes the metaverse as a multi-faceted example of emerging and disruptive technologies and its potential impact on global security. After a brief presentation of the concept, including some socio-economic implications on the civilian life, asymmetric risks such as terrorism and crypto-laundering in the metaverse/darkverse are addressed. Moreover, aspects related to the potential impact of the military applications on the metaverse are underlined. Last, but not least, beside the inherent opportunities and the risks of this still incipient version of the metaverse, a series of current limitations is presented.