Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product
Oculus Quest 2
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
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: Yes
App: No
Microphone
Device: Yes
App: No
Tracks location
Device: Yes
App: Yes
What can be used to sign up?
Yes
Phone
Yes
Third-party account
Yes
Facebook account is required
What data does the company collect?
Personal
The name, email address, and phone number
Body related
Social
Contacts (optional, when you share content)
How does the company use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?
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?
If using an app that works offline.
User-friendly privacy information?
Detailed Privacy FAQ & settings are provided
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Privacy policy
Dive Deeper
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Will the Oculus Quest still require a Facebook account? It’s complicatedThe Verge
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Facebook’s Oculus Quest will soon be called the Meta QuestThe Verge
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Facebook Just Gave 1 Million Oculus Users A Reason To QuitForbes
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Facebook hit with antitrust probe for tying Oculus use to Facebook accountsTechCrunch
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Facebook’s virtual reality push is about data, not gamingThe Conversation
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Oculus will sell you a Quest 2 headset that doesn't need Facebook for an extra $500PC Gamer
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Facebook VP of VR recommends checking your account is in 'good standing' before buying a Quest 2Fraser Brown
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Should You Trust Facebook With Oculus Quest 2 Privacy?Johnathan Jaehnig
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Everything We Know About Facebook's Massive Security BreachLouise Matsakis and Issie Lapowsky
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