Overcoming Security & Privacy Concerns with XR User Tracking
Extended reality has officially entered the enterprise, transforming training, collaboration, and even creative processes across industries. The trouble is, as XR devices become more sophisticated, incorporating new sensors, AI, and tracking capabilities, they’re collecting more data, forcing companies to rethink their approach to user tracking and privacy.
Deeper insights collected by XR devices can be a good thing for businesses. The more visibility you have into user behaviors, facial expressions and emotional cues (from EMG tech), the more you can discover ways to enhance productivity, efficiency, and training outcomes.
But every new data point also introduces compliance, privacy, and security concerns. Companies need to tread carefully to ensure they continue to adhere to the latest regulatory considerations, as they embrace the new era of immersive work.
XR User Tracking and Privacy, Security, and Compliance
We’ve come a long way from XR solutions that could only track physical input like button presses on a controller. Devices like the Apple Vision Pro can track (and record) biometric data. Countless headsets include gesture and motion tracking sensors to help streamline user experiences.
Then we have a range of “additional” accessories that collect additional insights, from arm-bands that collect granular movement data and EMG insights – just look at the Meta Orion EMG band.
Depending on the tools you invest in, you could have an immersive toolkit capable of recording details such as head orientation, hand gestures, eye gaze, pupil dilation, and spatial mapping of a user’s environment. Some platforms even claim to detect emotional states by examining micro-expressions, voice inflections, and muscular tension.
All of these new layers of data unlock new opportunities. For instance, sales training in virtual reality can track eye movements to see if a trainee looks directly at a prospect’s avatar, while motion sensors can analyze which gestures appear most persuasive. But there are serious problems too:
The Power (and Peril) of Biometric Insights
When it comes to user tracking, privacy, and security, biometric insights are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they can make systems more secure. The eye-tracking capabilities in the Vision Pro, for instance, allow for biometric authentication mechanisms, making it harder for external users to gain access to a device or app.
On the other hand – biometric data can also be intercepted by malicious actors. Iris scans, real-time movement patterns, even insights into heart rate, are all open to attack. Criminals could potentially collect details about a person’s location, identity, or even their physical vulnerabilities – particularly in the healthcare sector. Hackers might steal enough personal data to create deepfakes, hijack virtual avatars, or commit fraud.
Hand and Eye Tracking and User Privacy
Hand and eye tracking capabilities definitely make XR solutions more effective in the enterprise. They can improve immersion, eliminate the need for controllers, and even optimize the use of computing resources with foveated rendering.
Plus, they gather tons of great data that companies can use to learn about user experiences with products, track and improve educational outcomes, or enhance collaboration. But again, there are clear risks. One Berkley study found even just two seconds of hand and eye movement data can help a criminal to identify a unique user – raising serious privacy concerns.
Maintaining Enterprise Compliance
As XR adoption grows, adhering to ever-evolving regulations governing how companies should collect and store information is becoming harder. In the EU, GDPR places stringent rules on how organizations collect, store, and process personal information. Biometric data is considered a “special category” of information, triggering even more rigorous standards for protection and consent.
For companies handling medical or health-related data in an XR setting – imagine a healthcare provider using virtual reality for patient treatments – HIPAA compliance is a clear concern.
As XR becomes increasingly immersive, the line between “personal” data and “business” data is blurring, making it essential for organizations to adopt a robust strategy around user tracking privacy.
XR User Tracking Privacy and Security Best Practices
As devices and software continue to collect more data in the XR space, companies can’t afford to treat security and compliance as afterthoughts. Whether you’re investing in mixed, augmented, or virtual reality solutions, haptic feedback accessories, or XR software, you need a plan.
Here’s how you can prioritize XR user tracking privacy and security.
1. Conduct User Tracking, Privacy and Security Assessments
Starting with the basics – find out where the biggest user tracking privacy and security threats lie. Based on how you’re going to be using your tech and the solutions you’re investing in, what do you need to be aware of? What kind of data do your headsets and accessories track? Where do you store that information, and where do vulnerabilities exist?
Map out your priorities. Remember, not all XR data is equally sensitive. For instance, real-time biometric tracking in the healthcare industry might create more of a threat than a basic system that detects how long users spend in a training simulation menu.
Based on your assessment, carefully consider when certain “user tracking” solutions shouldn’t be used. For instance, it might make sense to use haptic feedback in training modules, but not for standard immersive collaboration sessions.
2. Implement Strong Data Protection Measures
Next, upgrade your data protection strategies. Take advantage of advanced authentication and access control options for headsets, like multi-factor authentication. Use the enterprise-focused software solutions offered by major XR vendors. For instance, Meta for Business makes it easy to monitor device usage patterns, onboard and offboard users, and control data.
When exploring applications to use for XR collaboration, training, or even customer service, make sure all information is encrypted at rest and in transit. If you’re using a cloud solution – ensure additional security measures are in place.
Consider adopting privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), such as differential privacy or on-device processing, to mask user data so that the “raw” biometric profiles do not leave the XR hardware. Apple, for instance, insists that much of its facial and eye-tracking data is processed on the Vision Pro itself, reducing what’s shared externally.
3. Develop Strict Security Policies and Educate Employees
Human error is always a major risk for companies focusing on compliance. When you’re developing your XR user tracking privacy strategy, make sure you have clear policies in place to guide teams on using these products safely.
Run simulations that mirror XR phishing attempts, such as suspicious pop-ups inside a VR collaboration environment, and show employees how to recognize and report these anomalies. Educate team members on the benefits of updating devices and software with patches (to reduce data leak risks), and be transparent about how their data is used.
Make sure employees are ready to respond quickly to incidents, too. For instance, if a breach is detected, every team member should know how to isolate compromised devices and attacks, report issues to the right department, and gather useful data.
4. Anonymize and Minimize Data
One golden rule in user tracking privacy – is only collect what you actually need. Don’t monitor, record, and store everything – that just opens you up to more risks. For instance, for an XR training program, you might not need to log every gaze point or micro expression – you might just need an insight into how engaged employees are through each module.
As you collect more sensitive data (such as biometric insights or behavioral data), think about anonymization. This can help you access useful stats and metrics without giving you huge amounts of personally identifiable information to protect.
Additionally, define specific retention timelines for XR data. You don’t necessarily need to hold onto all of your data forever – regular purging could narrow your threat landscape.
User Tracking Privacy, Security, and Compliance Done Right
As extended reality technologies continue to evolve, the amount of data we’re gathering is growing at an astronomical speed. That’s a good thing – and a bad thing. The more data you gather, the more you can optimize your XR strategy and unlock new opportunities. Still, collecting and processing huge amounts of data will always raise security and privacy concerns.
The immersive workspace is still a workspace, subject to strict rules and regulations. Don’t let embracing XR technologies open the door to new threats.
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