Human Digital Twin in a Metaverse: A Resilient and Sustainable Legal Framework on Virtual Identity in an AI-Driven Realities

AI-enhanced Human Digital Twins (HDTs) within the metaverse require a robust and adaptable legal framework to govern their autonomy and liability. The paper proposes that existing legal frameworks are mainly designed for individuals and legal entities and lack the level of detail required to address the complexities of AI-driven digital entities. This paper proposes a multi-level model for defining legal liability for HDTs, categorizing their autonomy into different levels ranging from latent data stores to self-governing digital entities with metacognitive capabilities. The model aims to provide a structured yet adaptable approach to assigning legal liability depending on HDTs’ decision-making ability and technological complexity. The main challenges are the opacity of the AI decision-making process (the black box problem), the dynamic evolution of AI models, and jurisdictional complexities in a decentralized metaverse. The results of the study suggest that a principles-based approach to regulation, rather than rigid technology-specific laws, will provide greater adaptability to the ever-evolving AI landscape. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.