Thus, an action that is merely rude in VR (e.g., teabagging a corpse) becomes taboo in AR if done over a real person’s grave. What is taboo in one culture may be acceptable in another. Examples:
| Legal Domain | Covers AR Taboo Examples | |--------------|--------------------------| | Harassment laws | AR stalking, persistent unwanted overlays | | Privacy (GDPR, CCPA) | AR that collects or displays personal data without consent | | Right of publicity | AR using someone’s likeness without permission | | Trespass (digital) | Anchoring virtual objects on private property (test cases pending) | | Emotional distress | Grief exploitation AR (rarely successful but emerging) | ar taboo
| Factor | VR | AR | |--------|----|----| | | Low (often solo) | High (interacting with real bystanders) | | Consent boundary | Clear (entering a game) | Fuzzy (camera always on) | | Persistence | Session-based | Can be anchored to real locations for years | | Harm type | Psychological mostly | Psychological + social + reputational | Thus, an action that is merely rude in VR (e
This guide is intended for students, developers, policymakers, and general readers interested in understanding why certain uses of AR provoke discomfort, rejection, or active prohibition. An AR taboo is an unwritten social rule or ethical boundary that discourages or forbids specific uses of Augmented Reality. Unlike legal prohibitions (e.g., spying laws), taboos arise from collective moral intuition, fear of social consequences, or psychological revulsion. An AR taboo is an unwritten social rule
| Region | Potential AR Taboo | Neutral/Tolerant View | |--------|--------------------|------------------------| | Japan | AR ghosts in hospitals (Shinto beliefs about spirit pollution) | AR tourist ghosts at historical sites | | Saudi Arabia | AR revealing a woman’s face without her consent | AR used for family genealogy overlays | | Indigenous Australia | AR showing secret/sacred dreamings in public lands | AR educational tools approved by elders | | Western Europe | AR that ranks people by social class or income | AR fashion filters for entertainment |