Oculus Quest 2

Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product

Oculus Quest 2

Facebook
Wi-Fi

Review date: Nov. 8, 2021

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Mozilla says

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People voted: Very creepy

Facebook's Oculus Quest 2 VR headset lets you play games inside the game or, as Mark Zuckerberg hopes you'll call it, the Metaverse. Immerse yourself in virtual reality as you climb tall mountains, battle bad guys, or have a lightsaber fight with Lord Vader. Just be careful to not get too carried away and break your walls or your neck. Be warned, Facebook still requires you to have a Facebook account to use the Oculus Quest 2. And they can and probably will use that account to generate lots more data about you. That's just what Facebook does.

What could happen if something goes wrong?

Facebook—the maker of the Oculus Quest 2—has a long history of betraying users' privacy and trust. They've faced record fines around the world for this and have been caught hiding data leaks from their users. Just as recently as April 2021, it was reported the personal information of more than 500 million Facebook users was shared online in a massive data leak. Couple that with recent Facebook whistleblower testimony to the US Congress that outlined the harms Facebook causes and the dishonest way they approach dealing with these harms and Facebook appears to be one of most immoral companies we review in *Privacy Not Included.

This is the starting point for bringing a device with both cameras and microphones that will be mapping and collecting a lot of data about you and your home environment. To use the device, you're still required to have a Facebook account (unless you shell out an additional $500 for a business version), which is another flag for us as Facebook collects and shares a large amount of user data and doesn’t always secure that data properly. The question comes down to, does Facebook have your best interests at heart when it collects all the data this device is capable of collecting? From Cambridge Analytica to where we are today, the answer to that question is a resounding NO. We're afraid this device comes with *privacy not included.

Tips to protect yourself

  • Connect your Oculus to the secure WiFi network
  • Set up an unlock pattern and secure your Quest 2 or Quest with an extra layer of security that you can use to prevent others from accessing your device or saved passwords.
  • Minimize the amount of data shared with your Facebook account
  • Set up your Facebook account's privacy settings
  • mobile

Can it snoop on me? information

Camera

Device: Yes

App: No

Microphone

Device: Yes

App: No

Tracks location

Device: Yes

App: Yes

What can be used to sign up?

Facebook account is required

What data does the company collect?

How does the company use this data?

Facebook's Oculus receives information about you from third parties, including third-party apps, developers, other online content providers, and marketing partners that provide information.

Oculus shares information with related companies, including the Facebook Companies. Facebook shares data with numerous third parties such as partners who use their analytics services, advertisers, measurement partners, partners offering goods and services in Facebook products, vendors and service providers, researchers and academics, law enforcement, and legal requests.

How can you control your data?

Facebook's Oculus stores Oculus data that identifies you until it is no longer necessary to provide Oculus Products or your Oculus account is deleted, whichever comes first, unless retention of the data for a longer period is justified in order to comply with law or recordkeeping obligations, to respond to a legal request, prevent harm, or to improve Oculus safety, integrity and security features.

When you delete your account, Oculus deletes things you have posted and information about apps and entitlements you have downloaded, and you will not be able to recover that information later. Information that others have shared about you is not part of your account and will not be deleted when you delete your account. To delete your account at any time, or to learn more about deleting your account, please visit the Privacy Center.

What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?

Bad

In April 2021, it was reported that there was a personal data leak of about 533 million Facebook users from 106 countries, including over 32 million records on users in the US, 11 million on users in the UK, and 6 million on users in India. It includes their phone numbers, Facebook IDs, full names, locations, birth dates, bios, and, in some cases, email addresses.

In August 2019, Bloomberg reported that Facebook hired contractors to transcribe audio messages users sent through Messenger and Facebook confirmed the report.

Can this product be used offline?

Yes

If using an app that works offline.

User-friendly privacy information?

Yes

Detailed Privacy FAQ & settings are provided

Links to privacy information

Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards? information

Yes

Encryption

Yes

Strong password

Yes

Security updates

Yes

Manages vulnerabilities

Yes

Privacy policy

Yes

Does the product use AI? information

Yes

Is this AI untrustworthy?

Can’t Determine

What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?

Oculus Insight computes an accurate and real-time position for the headset and controllers every millisecond in order to translate your precise movements into VR

Is the company transparent about how the AI works?

Yes

Does the user have control over the AI features?

Yes

*Privacy Not Included

Dive Deeper

  • Will the Oculus Quest still require a Facebook account? It’s complicated
    The Verge Link opens in a new tab
  • Facebook’s Oculus Quest will soon be called the Meta Quest
    The Verge Link opens in a new tab
  • Facebook Just Gave 1 Million Oculus Users A Reason To Quit
    Forbes Link opens in a new tab
  • Facebook hit with antitrust probe for tying Oculus use to Facebook accounts
    TechCrunch Link opens in a new tab
  • Facebook’s virtual reality push is about data, not gaming
    The Conversation Link opens in a new tab
  • Oculus will sell you a Quest 2 headset that doesn't need Facebook for an extra $500
    PC Gamer Link opens in a new tab
  • Facebook VP of VR recommends checking your account is in 'good standing' before buying a Quest 2
    Fraser Brown Link opens in a new tab
  • Should You Trust Facebook With Oculus Quest 2 Privacy?
    Johnathan Jaehnig Link opens in a new tab
  • Everything We Know About Facebook's Massive Security Breach
    Louise Matsakis and Issie Lapowsky Link opens in a new tab

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