First code of conduct for the use of virtual reality established
Based on their analysis of the risks, both researchers from the Department of Philosophy at Mainz University offer concrete recommendations for the use of VR. For example, in experimental work developing new clinical applications, researchers should be careful not to create false hopes in patients. They should repeatedly remind them of the merely experimental nature of the research. Madary and Metzinger also note that a code of ethical conduct, however important it may be, can never function as a substitute for ethical reasoning itself on the part of researchers. Out of concern for consumers of VR, they call for long-term studies into the psychological effects of immersion. They see a special danger with particular content such as violence and pornography, where the advanced technology increases the risk of psychological trauma. Users should be clearly informed of these dangers, as well as risks of hallucinations, personality changes, and the powerful unconscious influence of advertising in VR. Finally, Madary and Metzinger draw attention to the need for regulations regarding ownership and individuation of avatars, regulations that should also address concerns about surveillance and data protection.
The authors sum up their article, "Real Virtuality: A Code of Ethical Conduct. Recommendations for Good Scientific Practice and the Consumers of VR-Technology," by writing, "One of our main goals was to provide a first set of ethical recommendations as a platform for future discussions." The article appears in Frontiers in Robotics and AI, a well-known Open Access platform for scientific publications.
See two versions of the story here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2079601-virtual-reality-could-be-an-ethical-minefield-are-we-ready/ and here http://esciencenews.com/articles/2016/03/04/first.code.conduct.use.virtual.reality.established
And there is this critique: http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/vr-code-of-ethics