Abstract
Decentralised immersive virtual environments present both novel opportunities and complex governance challenges for public sector institutions. They are characterised by borderless interaction and user anonymity, hence, they raise critical questions about how governments can uphold ethical obligations, transparency, and accountability. Drawing on a case study of a pioneering initiative in Norway —where the national tax authority and business registry established offices in Decentraland — this paper offers ear ly empirical insights focusing on the motivations, governance considerations, and emerging desires of public entities. Overall, the study shows how decentralised governance models interact with traditional public sector norms. Findings highlight the diffic ulties of applying regulations like the GDPR and fulfilling public service duties in this setting. These insights can inform future policymaking and platform design. Preliminary findings and next steps, will be presented at the conference
Recommended Citation
Babb, Phylicia; Baloutsos, Stratos; Polyviou, Ariana; and Vassilakopoulou, Polyxeni, "Public Sector in the Metaverse: Rethinking Governance in Decentralised Ecosystems" (2025). MCIS 2025 Proceedings. 27.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/mcis2025/27