Proposal to Integrate the EU Child Guarantee and the 20 Principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights into the XR Code of Conduct

XR Code of Conduct
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As a rapporteur of the VR/AR Industrial Coalition, founder of Global3CCS® (ZEC – Canary Islands, Spain), and a European Commission-accredited field expert in sustainable innovation and education, I submit this formal proposal to integrate two key EU frameworks into the XR4Human Code of Conduct:

• The European Child Guarantee

• The 20 Principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights

These are not just policy ideals—they are operational mandates to ensure that immersive technologies serve people, territories, and generations ethically and inclusively.

:one: The European Child Guarantee – an ethical requirement in XR

The EU Child Guarantee ensures that no child is left behind, granting free and effective access to:

• Healthcare (including mental health)

• Inclusive and safe education (including digital education)

• Healthy nutrition and decent housing

• Connectivity and protection from exclusion

In XR development, this should translate into:

• Safeguards against emotional manipulation in immersive environments

• Privacy-by-design systems with parental controls

• Child safety as a non-negotiable principle in XR hardware, software, and content

• Alignment of XR education and training tools with EU social protection standards

At Global3CCS, we are already building XR-enabled, habitable immersive capsules for healthcare, mining, and vocational training, equipped with:

• Real-time human supervision

• Non-invasive augmented reality

• Biosecurity features (UV disinfection, filtered airflow, smart sensors)

• Intergenerational mentorship via “tech grandparents”

:two: The 20 Social Pillar Principles – the ethical backbone of XR in Europe

The XR Code of Conduct must reflect the EU’s broader social model. Several principles are directly applicable:

Key principles for inclusion:

• #1. Education, training and lifelong learning:

XR tools must be accessible from age 16, enabling early digital citizenship and hands-on vocational skills.

• #11. Childcare and support to children:

XR must support human development, not replace care or emotional presence.

• #16. Healthcare:

XR must align with public health strategies—particularly in outermost and underserved regions.

• #17. Inclusion of persons with disabilities:

Real cognitive, sensory, and motor accessibility is essential, not optional.

• #20. Access to essential services:

XR must reduce—not replicate—territorial inequality in connectivity, education, or mobility, especially in ultraperipheral regions like the Canary Islands.

These principles must be actively integrated into procurement, design, implementation, and evaluation of all XR tools financed or recognized by EU institutions.

:three: Grounded implementation: REVESTIC, PAMRELAVES and smart immersive capsules

From the Canary Islands, Global3CCS® has developed:

• REVESTIC – XR-enhanced coatings and eco-materials for sustainable infrastructure

• PAMRELAVES – XR and AI for tailings valorization and circular mining solutions

• Immersive Capsules – modular smart environments for health, training, and field operations using ethical AI and Industry 5.0 standards

These solutions are fully aligned with the European Digital Credentials for Learning (EDC) and the ETF/CEDEFOP vision for future skills and early inclusion in the labor market (see conference invitation, Oct. 30, 2024).

:four: Concrete Proposal : Video: #UnionOfSkillsCanary : “SEVEN Lives 7 Oceans Intertwined: REVESTIC” :play_button: Video: #UnionOfSkillsCanary : “SEVEN Lives 7 Oceans Intertwined: REVESTIC” - Google Drive

I formally propose:

  1. The creation of a dedicated section within the XR Code of Conduct focused on children, youth, and intergenerational ethics

  2. The mandatory inclusion of the EU Child Guarantee in all XR tools with educational or social impact

  3. The explicit integration of the 20 Social Pillar Principles as design and policy anchors

  4. Monitoring and certification of immersive spaces with real-time ethical supervision

  5. Alignment of these ethical requirements with all EU-funded XR initiatives, including those under Digital Europe, Horizon Europe, and ESF+

Pepe Betancort

Founder, Global3CCS®

Relator – Sandbox VR/AR Industrial Coalition

Accredited Expert – European Commission (Field-Based – Social Innovation & Sustainability)

(ZEC – Canary Islands, Spain, European Union)

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Hi Pepe,

Your point is very valuable, however, I was wondering, children cannot access virtual worlds at the moment (all platforms require that users are 13 or even 18+), and because it is really difficult to guarantee safety for them, should we even take into consideration their presence in virtual worlds?

If we really want to allow them to access virtual worlds, I think first, a new type of safe platform should be created, and there should be tests in that platform to evaluate the needs of children in virtual worlds and which functionalities should be limited in order to guarantee their safety.

Still, even in the physical world, some places are not for children, and I think there are many issues with children being able to access virtual worlds.

This is a very valuable discussion, I think we should address this in our next LinkedIn discussion @michaelbarngrover

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