published
virtual demonstrationWorld Cup protests are now also taking place in the Metaverse
In Qatar, protests are made almost impossible by the country’s security forces during the World Cup. One organization is now continuing the demonstrations elsewhere: on the Fifa server of the public Metaverse online game “Roblox”.
This is the virtual Metaverse world in the game “Roblox”.
roblox
“Fifa World” is an official world created by FIFA where players can collect and earn items.
not play
The 2022 World Cup may be the most controversial of all time. Protests about working conditions in Qatar around the World Cup and homophobic statements by the World Cup ambassador are causing great commotion. As protests in Qatar grow, albeit contained by security measures, one organization has continued the demonstrations virtually. And in the online game «Roblox».
This action was organized by the international human rights organization “All Out”. The Metaverse worlds in “Roblox” can also be created by the players themselves. FIFA created the “Fifa World” there to celebrate the World Cup. There, players can play football, win virtual jerseys and talk to the community about the World Cup.
A letter to each protester
“All Out” organized the first protest there. The activists’ avatars gathered in the center of “Fifa World”, all with a letter on their virtual T-shirt, which then, when lined up, resulted in a phrase: “FIFA: UNPLAY THE HATE”. This way they can avoid being banned from the system.
They are now shouting: “Anyone can demonstrate as an individual or group in the FIFA world”. For this they offer to all interested on their website the necessary resources and describe exactly how the virtual demo works. They also provide the t-shirts.
It is the first virtual protest for the World Cup so far. According to the organizations, it should not be the last.