Fb Login, Person Information And Privateness On Oculus Headsets
Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 is one of the best headsets out there. It also requires a Facebook login and consent to the Facebook Terms of Service for the device.
Here’s our rundown of what you’ll do while using a Facebook headset – including the importance of logging into Facebook, how we use your personal data and information, and how Facebook has access to your headset’s real-time data.
History and context
For those who didn’t know, here is a brief contextual overview with the information listed below.
In 2014, Facebook acquired Oculus, the virtual reality startup founded by Palmer Luckey, for approximately $ 3 billion. Although it was insisted that Oculus would still operate somewhat independently of Facebook, the Oculus branch of Facebook was slowly but surely becoming a larger part of the Facebook ecosystem rather than a separate entity.
Until recently, Oculus headset owners could simply sign in with an Oculus ID / account when using their device – no direct Facebook association required. It was possible to link your Facebook and Oculus accounts for social functions, but this was never mandated and remained an optional feature. Over time, however, this began to change.
In May 2018, Facebook requested that users link their Facebook and Oculus accounts together in order to access the Oculus venues.
In December 2019, Facebook announced that it would use Oculus VR data to serve “more relevant content” like ads on Facebook when your Facebook and Oculus accounts are linked.
Facebook announced its newest headset, Oculus Quest 2, in September 2020. However, it was also announced that the device would require a Facebook login. Without logging into Facebook, there is no way to use and access the headset. All new first-time logins on an Oculus device require the user to log in with a Facebook account. Users who owned a headset prior to October 2020 and are using an Oculus account with no linked Facebook account will only be able to do so until February 2023. Facebook then says that a Facebook login is required for “full functionality”. Facebook plans to share details on how these account holders can access their purchased content after that date.
Log in with Facebook
As described above, you must now sign in to a Facebook account every time you sign in to a new Oculus headset for the first time. The first time you’re setting up a headset, you’ll need to sign in with a valid Facebook account. Standalone Oculus accounts will continue to be supported for users who set up a headset before October 2020 and did not link their Facebook account. However, it is no longer possible to create an Oculus account for your headset. Logging into Facebook is the only option.
It also means that your access to the headset will also depend on access to your Facebook account. If access to your Facebook account is revoked, so will access to your headset. Likewise, your Oculus purchases are tied to your Facebook account. If you permanently delete your Facebook account, you will also permanently lose access to all purchased content linked to that account.
According to the company’s terms and conditions, your Facebook account, which you would use to log into an Oculus device, must “use the same name that you use every day.” You cannot use Facebook if your account has previously been used for violating the Facebook terms and conditions have been disabled.
You can still use an “Oculus ID” as a display name for games and apps even though you are signed in to Facebook. This is a great way to stay a little private while playing online or participating in social services like Facebook Horizon.
Facebook account requirements
There are also a few things to consider regarding the Facebook account that you use to log into your headset.
First of all, you want to make sure that you are using a “real” account with your real name on. It has been reported that users have been banned while attempting to use or link an account that was a “dummy” account (a fake account was created using a fake name and false or made up details) or account that wasn’t her primary Facebook account. Facebook can change its detection systems at any time so those who create such an account can be intercepted for years to come.
Around the release of Quest 2, a small number of users were banned for false positives that were automatically filled in by the account verification system. The same thing reportedly happened to some users who tried to reactivate an old Facebook account or to some people who had just created a brand new account. We believe the process of lifting the ban involves manual human approval, which is often lengthy and requires photographic proof of identity.
It is worth noting that the vast majority of Facebook users who have linked an Oculus Quest device are not affected by this automatic locking process and have no issues. That being said, a small percentage of Quest users are affected for the reasons listed above (and likely other unreported reasons as well). For more information, see our report, which lists all issues from last October.
In response, Andrew Bosworth, Facebook’s vice president of augmented and virtual reality, said that only a “small number” of users are affected, that “people should continue to make sure their Facebook accounts are in good condition before they do this.” buy headset. “You can read his full answer here.
On-device headset and tracking data
Some users would understandably be concerned about linking their Facebook account to a device that tracks human movements and uses four external cameras in the first place. However, Facebook repeatedly reassures users that they are not collecting or storing any Oculus Quest camera or guard data.
Facebook’s tracking system uses data from the cameras to create a 3D world map. While the camera images are not saved in any way, a 3D point cloud that identifies the placement of unique static features of the environment is saved locally on the headset in any room where you have a Guardian boundary set up. This allows the system to recognize which room you are in and load the Guardian boundary that was created earlier. Facebook tells us that this data does not leave the local device.
The Oculus Quest headsets also have a small white light on the top of the headset that is “firmly attached to the sensor power rail”. This means that the light should be turned on whenever the camera sensors are receiving power. You can find more information about Facebook’s camera tracking system here.
Activity data and displays
While Facebook states that device data such as the camera images will not leave the device, some activity and content data does not. In December 2019, Facebook confirmed that your activity on an Oculus device, e.g. For example, what apps you use can be used to target “relevant content” such as ads or Facebook events to you. For example, Facebook can collect data about which VR apps you’ve used on your device and then target you with suggestions for “Oculus events you might want to attend or ads for VR apps available in the Oculus Store.” while using this Facebook.
In late December 2020, the head of Facebook’s VR and AR department wrote notes to employees outlining a possible shift in the company’s privacy policy. Andrew Bosworth wrote of how he wanted the company to differentiate itself on privacy concerns while “holding a higher bar on sending data to the server than we do on local processing”.
“I don’t want us to just meet consumer expectations for privacy today,” he wrote. “I would like us to differentiate our products for reasons of data protection. Let other companies try to keep up with us. “
Do you have any questions about Facebook logins, user data and data protection with Oculus headsets? Let us know in the comments and we’ll try to clear this up as best we can. Are you also checking out the New to VR? Section of our website for more information.
Note: This article was updated shortly after it was published to clarify certain dates and wording related to Facebook logins on Oculus headsets.
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