The European Union (EU) is taking a closer look at the metaverse, with the bloc's digital chief, Margrethe Vestager, saying that the metaverse "has the potential to create new opportunities for businesses and consumers."

Vestager has tasked the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, with studying the metaverse and its implications for the bloc's digital strategy. The commission is expected to publish a report on the metaverse in the coming months.

The metaverse is a virtual world that is accessed through a variety of devices, including VR headsets, AR glasses, and smartphones. It is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the internet.

The EU is interested in the metaverse for a number of reasons. First, the bloc sees the metaverse as a potential driver of economic growth. Second, the EU is concerned about the potential for the metaverse to be used for illegal activities, such as fraud and child sexual abuse. Third, the EU wants to ensure that the metaverse is developed in a way that respects EU values, such as privacy and data protection.

The EU's interest in the metaverse is a sign that the bloc is taking a proactive approach to the development of this new technology. The commission's report on the metaverse is likely to provide important insights into the potential benefits and risks of the metaverse, and it will help the EU to shape the future of this technology.

Here are some additional details about the EU's interest in the metaverse:

• The commission is expected to publish a report on the metaverse in the coming months.
• The report will focus on the potential benefits and risks of the metaverse, as well as the EU's policy options for the metaverse.
• The EU is particularly interested in the metaverse's potential to create new opportunities for businesses and consumers, as well as its potential to be used for illegal activities.
• The EU wants to ensure that the metaverse is developed in a way that respects EU values, such as privacy and data protection.

It will be interesting to see what the commission's report on the metaverse says, and how the EU's policy on the metaverse evolves in the coming years.