The European Commission has adopted a new strategy on Web 4.0 and the Metaverse to guide the next technological transformation and ensure an open, secure, trustworthy, fair and inclusive digital environment for EU citizens, businesses and public administrations. It claims that the next generation of Web 4.0 will allow the integration between digital and real objects and environments, and enhance the interaction between humans and machines. It will bring a seamlessly connected, intelligent and immersive world. The global virtual worlds market size is expected to grow from EUR 27 billion in 2022 to more than EUR 800 billion in 2030.

Last week, the document said that early next year, it would promote a "regulatory sandbox" to test short-term projects under a more relaxed regime.