The continuum of real and virtual human rights: a theoretical, conceptual, and doctrinal approach to connecting human rights, future generations, and the virtual world

Abstract

The chapter delves into the interaction between human rights, future generations, and the virtual world, articulating a theoretical, conceptual, and doctrinal framework for addressing human rights in the virtual environments. Advances in technologies like AI offer enhanced access to rights but also pose challenges like privacy infringement and data protection concerns. The study emphasises the importance of addressing these issues not just for current, but for future generations, highlighting potential long-term consequences of today's technological solutions. The research contributes to the evolving academic discourse on the human rights of future generations in the digital age and the development of rules on human rights compliance in advanced communication technologies. Introducing the novel concept of virtual human rights, the study advocates for an extension of the existing human rights framework to include digital realities. It stresses the importance of equal and sustainable access to technology and the realisation of human rights within virtual spaces, using both traditional and innovative tools.