In 2014 people were derrided for their views on Facebook's takeover of Oculus

[melmac]

Facebook also lock inactive accounts or accounts they think are fake and require you to upload Photo ID to prove who you are. You shouldn't have to do that to access a VR headset!

Facebook doesn't lock inactive accounts. It's pretty easy to have an FB account with no personal information at all on it.

If people hate Facebook that much, that's ok too, stand by their principles and don't buy another thing from them. It's Facebook's loss.

But, I would say for the majority of people this won't make much difference at all. If the next Oculus headset is amazing and decently priced it will sell very well.

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

This must be music to the competition's ears.
No way in hell I'd be buying anything Oculus now.

 

[Ravenger]

I am still concerned about what happens if Facebook decides to ban your account over something completely unrelated to your VR usage - say a post you made a few years ago now offends someone and is now against the community standards.

Do you lose your purchased games and access to your hardware?

Also what happens if you currently have an Oculus account but have been banned previously from Facebook. Can you still access the VR ecosystem?

Will they have to flag bans on the main Facebook account separately from the VR profile part?

 

[drakulton]

How much do you think that they'll gimp the usage if you already have an oculus account but refuse the fb spyware.
If it's the social features, then I'm fine with that as I'm never ever going to use them.

 

[rossiboy001]

Perhaps if I have to watch adverts every 3 mins and my game pauses then Oculus headsets should be free or heavily discounted. After all thats how the FB model works for a free service they collect data and pump us with adverts, then so should the headset be free?

 

[Ravenger]

How much do you think that they'll gimp the usage if you already have an oculus account but refuse the fb spyware.
If it's the social features, then I'm fine with that as I'm never ever going to use them.

I imagine it'll be access to the store as well as blocking social access. They're doing that to the Go - turning off ability to buy apps (though you can download ones you already own).

 

[CuriousTomCat]

My Facebook account is empty with no posts, no friends, and no content so I'm not really bothered about this move.

 

[Nasher]

No way I'm going to be bullied by facebook. I'm just going to sell my Oculus and get a Vive instead.

Even if you make an empty account you still have to agree to their terms and conditions, so they can still spy on you in other ways.

 

[CuriousTomCat]

No way I'm going to be bullied by facebook and be forced to make an account so they can farm by data. I'm just going to sell my Oculus and get a Vive instead.

I've never bought anything on the oculus store and I never will. All my VR games are on Steam.

I'll get rid of the Rift if they ever block access to the Steam store. Apart from that, they can do what they like for all I care. I'm happy with the hardware so I don't regret buying it.

 

[Ravenger]

https://uploadvr.com/oculus-germany-sales-pause-regulators/

Interesting development. Apparently Facebook's forcing of Facebook accounts goes against German privacy laws, so Facebook has had to halt sales of Oculus devices in Germany until the issue is sorted out to the German regulator's satisfaction.

If this means that Germans don't have to have a Facebook account then that could have implications for the rest of the EU too.

 

[Devrij]

https://uploadvr.com/oculus-germany-sales-pause-regulators/

Interesting development. Apparently Facebook's forcing of Facebook accounts goes against German privacy laws, so Facebook has had to halt sales of Oculus devices in Germany until the issue is sorted out to the German regulator's satisfaction.

If this means that Germans don't have to have a Facebook account then that could have implications for the rest of the EU too.

Shame we decided to leave the EU

 

[aoaaron]

I have mixed emotions. Oculus and Facebook are clearly not good for VR, but at the same time, they're the only PCVR company pumping money into VR software in a timely consistent manner.

 

[Ravenger]

Shame we decided to leave the EU

The EU legislation on data processing (GDPR) is part of UK law now, and will remain so post brexit, unless it's specifically repealed.

Germany apparently has even stricter standards - Google Street View is not available for most of Germany for instance.

 

[Dicehunter]

As a FB user of 13 years, not bothered.

You really should be concerned, Let me explain why.

As your Facebook account will be tied directly to your hardwares ID and the software you have bought, Any action you take on Facebook that someone may not like, Or something that someone finds offensive, Can then report you which could land you a temporary suspension or a permanent ban, Easier than ever to do, Just disagree with someone about a mainstream talking point.

Inturn this renders your VR device into an expensive paperweight as it is linked to your now banned account, And your software library is now null and void.

This gives Zuckerberg a hell of a lot of power and control over others, That is something everyone with an ounce of sense should care about.

 

[krooton]

You really should be concerned, Let me explain why.

As your Facebook account will be tied directly to your hardwares ID and the software you have bought, Any action you take on Facebook that someone may not like, Or something that someone finds offensive, Can then report you which could land you a temporary suspension or a permanent ban, Easier than ever to do, Just disagree with someone about a mainstream talking point.

Inturn this renders your VR device into an expensive paperweight as it is linked to your now banned account, And your software library is now null and void.

This gives Zuckerberg a hell of a lot of power and control over others, That is something everyone with an ounce of sense should care about.

A. There is nothing saying that an account ban in Facebook will render the device and library null and void.

B. In 13 years of use I have never once had a warning or ban, especially helped by the fact I don't engage with strangers on FB.

14 year old edgelords are understandably concerned, but for me it isn't really a risk.

 

[Dicehunter]

A. There is nothing saying that an account ban in Facebook will render the device and library null and void.

B. In 13 years of use I have never once had a warning or ban, especially helped by the fact I don't engage with strangers on FB.

14 year old edgelords are understandably concerned, but for me it isn't really a risk.

Nothing to do with kids mouthing off.

Time will tell.

 

[Ravenger]

This may seem unlikely, but...

Say a 13 year old gets banned off facebook for mouthing off about something.

As Facebook accounts are tied to real identity, and you can't use alternate accounts that means they could be permanently banned from the Oculus platform. Years later when they've matured they would still be banned and would be unable to get unbanned or get a new account, according to Facebook's TOS.

Facebook wants to own the VR metaverse. If they achieve that then being banned from Facebook could effectively mean being banned from their equivalent of The Oasis. In the future these VR metaverses may be a primary way to socialise, get jobs, etc. It'd almost be like being banned from the internet.

Far fetched? Perhaps.

Note that other gaming accounts like Steam, Xbox Live, etc. do not prevent you using your purchased games if your account gets restricted. You may simply be unable go online or buy new games depending on the restrictions imposed, and in any case you can always start fresh with a new account. You can't do that with Facebook - you can only ever have one account, for life. An account ban is effectively permanent exclusion.

In any case Facebook needs to clarify the exact position here -what effect does a Facebook ban have on your ability to use your device and games?

Does a Facebook ban mean you could be permanently excluded from the Oculus VR platform?

These are questions journalists ought to be asking!

 

[Dicehunter]

This may seem unlikely, but...

Say a 13 year old gets banned off facebook for mouthing off about something.

As Facebook accounts are tied to real identity, and you can't use alternate accounts that means they could be permanently banned from the Oculus platform, even years later when they've matured and look back in disgust at how they behaved.

Facebook wants to own the VR metaverse. If they achieve that then being banned from Facebook could effectively mean being banned from their equivalent of The Oasis. In the future these VR metaverses may be a primary way to socialise, get jobs, etc. It'd almost be like being banned from the internet.

Far fetched? Perhaps.

Note that other gaming accounts like Steam, Xbox Live, etc. do not prevent you using your games if your account gets restricted (apart from preventing online play if you cheat or are abusive online), and in any case you can always start fresh with a new account. You can't do that with Facebook - you can only ever have one account, for life. An account ban is effectively permanent exclusion.

In any case Facebook needs to clarify the exact position here -what effect does a Facebook ban have on your ability to use your device and games?

Does a Facebook ban mean you could be permanently excluded from the Oculus VR platform?

These are questions journalists ought to be asking!

I once got told by a friend of mine that deals with BIG business "If you can imagine something bad/evil that a business does, Multiply it by 10 and you are still nowhere near to what they are actually doing".

When it comes to people like Zuckerberg that actively seek power, Nothing is off the table.

 

[Ravenger]

Read this Reddit thread. I expect to see a lot more cases like this when the Facebook account becomes mandatory.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/ilwpri/made_a_facebook_account_for_oculus_and_got/

So, I made a FB account to merge with Oculus and after 10 minutes it got disabled for no apparent reason. I haven't had a FB account in years but decided to make one to merge my Oculus account. There currently reviewing my account (after I sent them a clear photo with my face).

Has anyone had this happened to them? Also does anyone know if you merge the accounts and then they decide to ban me again do I lose the games I bought on Oculus?

EDIT: 2020/09/04 So yeah FB disabled my account permanently because I din't follow there community standards(I had my real name there and actual photos of myself). I tried looking for a customer service number to call but can't find any. Last time I buy a Oculus product.

 

[Dicehunter]

Read this Reddit thread. I expect to see a lot more cases like this when the Facebook account becomes mandatory.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/ilwpri/made_a_facebook_account_for_oculus_and_got/

Does not surprise me, My Facebook account was banned over a year ago because I had a profile picture of Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy saying "I'm mary poppins yall" someone reported my account and even had the audacity to let me know, It got banned because it wasn't a pic of myself according to the reason given, Couldn't do a thing about it, Didn't even have an option to do anything.

6 months later I made a new account this time with an actual picture of myself, It got suspended 2 months later for "being fake", Bare in mind I only ever used the account to message friends and family, I never commented on anything, I contacted customer services this time with a provided option and they required info, I took a picture of my face next to my open valid passport but they deemed it fake and perma banned me.

This is why I keep saying it's incredibly easy to be banned from Facebook and most of the time it's for ridiculous reasons but some people don't seem to be able to grasp this concept.