Advertising and Privacy in Virtual and Artificial Worlds

Driven by newer technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI, how people interact with technology is shifting toward more immersive and collaborative experiences. Advertising teams are always eager to capture consumer interest in fresh ways. From this perspective, virtual and artificial worlds seem to present an ideal space for innovative advertising campaigns. Despite the newness of certain technological advances, however, virtual and artificial worlds are not without legal and regulatory guardrails. 

This program, taught by Linda Goldstein, Nichole Sterling, Carolina Alonso, and Lauren Bass of BakerHostetler, will discuss how these newer technologies intersect with the existing legal and regulatory landscape, and how they may challenge privacy compliance programs. During the program, we will tackle questions, such as how does using a virtual influencer differ from working with a human influencer? How does advertising in virtual reality differ from advertising in traditional media? What compliance obligations are relevant to AI-powered chatbots? How do offerings like dynamic advertising, micro-targeted advertising, and first-person immersive advertising work with user privacy?

This program will benefit in-house counsel, attorneys in private practice, and others with an interest in marketing, advertising, privacy, and data protection.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify how novel uses of advertising may come into conflict with existing laws and regulations

2. Discuss privacy concerns that can intersect with the processing of personal data, especially more sensitive types of personal data, for advertising

3. Review questions that legal teams should ask when advertising teams propose new ideas to take advantage of virtual or artificial technologies

4. Explore recent legal and regulatory developments related to cutting-edge advertising and privacy trends