Wild World of XR and Privacy: Session 1

Navigating the intersection of immersive technologies and (learner) privacy has been a concern for educational institutions adopting VR and AR solutions for some time. From bio-metric data collection to environmental mapping of physical spaces, the privacy questions of XR technologies can feel overwhelming when faced alone—especially as regulations struggle to keep pace with innovation.

Join peers and experts to explore the privacy questions no one has fully answered—yet.

Our Npuls XR Pilothub is starting a new three-part series on XR and Privacy. A series which will explore how virtual and augmented reality affects privacy in education. This series welcomes privacy officers, educators, policy advisors and those who want to tackle these complex problems.

The Situation

XR headsets are already in classrooms, so we’re working to learn out what that means for privacy, for learners, policy and education as a whole. Together, we want to act—not by pointing fingers, but by creating space for open, honest dialogue. This is about understanding who is impacted, where the risks lie, and how we can move forward responsibly using the tools we already have.

Through these sessions, we’re building a shared understanding of XR privacy challenges—and working together to find practical solutions for the reality we’re in today. We invite educators working with XR, privacy and security officers, and policy advisors who want to share their concerns, insights, or questions. Whether you're looking for guidance or ready to contribute, your voice is needed in this conversation.

Session Details:

• Session: Wild World of XR and Privacy
• Date: June 13, 2025
• Time: 13:00 – 17:00, with networking drinks afterward
• Location: SURF Office, Utrecht
• Language: NL/EN (Based on attendance)
• Cost: Free for SURF and Npuls members
• Link to register: https://event.surf.nl/wild-world-of-xr-and-privacy/registration/?no-sso#/participants

In this first session,

We’ll start by exploring what we already know about XR and highlight key privacy concerns; such as the wide range of data collection methods and their implications for privacy policy. The session will open with a presentation by Helma de Boer, Product Manager of SURF's Privacy Expertise Centre. This will be followed by an interactive segment led by Valeria Kornilova, SURF’s Vendor Compliance Advisor, in which participants will work through real-life cases and questions from peers on privacy and data ethics in XR for education.

To wrap up the day, there will be a networking borrel for an opportunity to connect with fellow participants and continue the conversation.

Do you have an XR privacy story or experience to share at our first session?

We're collecting examples from our community to discuss during the session. Your experience can help others! Let us know at john.walker@surf.nl with your example or case you'd like to bring to this first session.