Development of the First Judicial Hearing in the Metaverse in Costa Rica
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/k0542c91Keywords:
Judicial hearing, Regulations, Metaverse, Information Technologies, Natural RealityAbstract
This study describes the methodological process followed to conduct the first judicial hearing in the Metaverse in Costa Rica, held on October 12, 2023, by the Civil Court of Desamparados in the Province of San José. The selected case was a non-contentious name change procedure, with the approval of all procedural parties involved, ensuring the necessary conditions to test this technology. The research, with a descriptive approach, details the steps and technological resources employed, highlighting the use of the Meta Horizon Workrooms platform to establish an adequate virtual environment. To guarantee compliance with due process, prior simulations and training sessions were carried out for both the participants and court staff, focusing on familiarization with the technology, avatar customization, and the management of connectivity and potential technical issues. During the hearing, participants used Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets, and the session was recorded both on Microsoft Teams and within the Metaverse, ensuring a complete backup of the information. The hearing lasted 20 minutes and was conducted without technical difficulties. This pilot experience underscores the benefits of virtual reality in the judicial field, such as greater accessibility, geographical flexibility, and protection against the revictimization of parties. However, it also presents challenges, such as the initial implementation costs, the secure verification of identities in virtual environments, and the need for a regulatory framework to govern its broader use.
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