Meta: Difference between revisions
m →Anti-consumer practices: format each listed practice as a section |
|||
| (4 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| Logo = Meta.webp | | Logo = Meta.webp | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[wikipedia:Meta_Platforms|'''Meta Platforms, Inc.''']], formerly known as Facebook, is a multinational technology conglomerate primarily known for its social media platforms, including [[Facebook]], [[Instagram]], [[WhatsApp]], and [[Messenger]]. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook quickly grew into one of the largest social networks in the world. Over the years, the company has expanded its business model, incorporating advertising, data collection, and virtual reality products, with a focus on connecting users globally. | [[wikipedia:Meta_Platforms|'''Meta Platforms, Inc.''']], formerly known as Facebook, is a multinational technology conglomerate primarily known for its social media platforms, including [[Facebook]], [[Instagram]], [[WhatsApp]], and [[Messenger]]. Founded in 2004 by [[Mark Zuckerberg]], Facebook quickly grew into one of the largest social networks in the world. Over the years, the company has expanded its business model, incorporating advertising, data collection, and virtual reality products, with a focus on connecting users globally. | ||
In 2021, Facebook rebranded itself as Meta, signaling its shift toward a broader vision focused on the "metaverse" – a virtual-reality, interconnected digital world. Meta has faced ongoing scrutiny over issues related to consumer privacy, data security, content moderation, and its role in spreading misinformation. The company has been involved in several high-profile regulatory and legal challenges, particularly regarding its handling of user data and its impact on user well-being. | In 2021, Facebook rebranded itself as Meta, signaling its shift toward a broader vision focused on the "metaverse" – a virtual-reality, interconnected digital world. Meta has faced ongoing scrutiny over issues related to consumer privacy, data security, content moderation, and its role in spreading misinformation. The company has been involved in several high-profile regulatory and legal challenges, particularly regarding its handling of user data and its impact on user well-being. | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
===Facebook<!-- Wow, we got a lot to list here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook#Criticisms_and_controversies -->=== | ===Facebook<!-- Wow, we got a lot to list here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook#Criticisms_and_controversies -->=== | ||
====Upload of private user photos on phones to the cloud for AI training (June 2025)==== | |||
According to reports, some users have reported popups asking them to opt in to "cloud processing" of their photos when using the Story feature. This would give the app unrestricted access to all photos stored on the user's phone and upload all of them to the cloud on a reguar basis, as opposed to just uploading those images explicitly chosen by the user to be posted on the platform. Users are incentivized to agree through the promise of custom collages and recaps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Tina |date=June 28, 2025 |title=Facebook is starting to feed its AI with private, unpublished photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/meta/694685/meta-ai-camera-roll |access-date=June 29, 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> | |||
This would allow Meta to perform face recognition, track the past location of the user and their social circle based on the GPS metadata from all photos, train AI models with the photos, and much more. This also has security implications since the data on Meta's servers could be leaked or hacked at any time. | |||
It should be noted that on-device analysis of all photos and their metadata was already possible on older mobile operating systems until Apple and Google added more granular permissions than "access camera roll or not". Whether this was actively exploited by apps like Facebook is unknown. | |||
Users can reduce the amount of data these services can harvest by using the browser version in an incognito tab instead of using dedicated apps. Installing an adblocker is also advisable. However, not all features may be accessible this way. | |||
====Local Mess (June 2025)==== | ====Local Mess (June 2025)==== | ||
| Line 26: | Line 35: | ||
====Artificial permission requirements in Android App==== | ====Artificial permission requirements in Android App==== | ||
The Facebook Android App summarily requests a lot of permissions. Most of those can be denied if unwanted. However, when the unlimited permission to access all media files on the user's phone is not granted, it is not possible to share images from the app. This is a | The Facebook Android App summarily requests a lot of permissions. Most of those can be denied if unwanted. However, when the unlimited permission to access all media files on the user's phone is not granted, it is not possible to share images from the app. This is a bogus requirement, as this permission is not needed to share images ''out'' of an app. The app will guide the user into enabling that permission when they [first] try to share an image out of Facebook to a different app, e.g. a messenger. Notably, even granting limited access will trigger the "more permissions required" guidance. | ||
As a crude workaround, one can take screenshots of images in the app instead of using its sharing functionality. Since that yields images in screen resolution, this workaround may not be suitable in all cases. | As a crude workaround, one can take screenshots of images in the app instead of using its sharing functionality. Since that yields images in screen resolution, this workaround may not be suitable in all cases. | ||
| Line 79: | Line 88: | ||
Game developers are advised to avoid the OVRPlugin where possible and rely on generic OpenXR implementations that support the standard correctly. Affected users can try the Meta Plugin Compatibility option in their SteamVR settings. The latest version of Virtual Desktop should also have the workarounds implemented. Players of Unreal Engine games report that launching the game with -hmd=openxr can bypass the plugin. | Game developers are advised to avoid the OVRPlugin where possible and rely on generic OpenXR implementations that support the standard correctly. Affected users can try the Meta Plugin Compatibility option in their SteamVR settings. The latest version of Virtual Desktop should also have the workarounds implemented. Players of Unreal Engine games report that launching the game with -hmd=openxr can bypass the plugin. | ||
====Update on the | ====Update on the Oculus Quest 2 /Pro removed a key feature on keyboard tracking'''[https://communityforums.atmeta.com/t5/Talk-VR/Removing-Keyboard-Tracking-on-Quest-2-Pro-What-s-next-on-the/td-p/1284678]'''==== | ||
Meta’s recent decision to discontinue support for physical keyboard tracking on the Quest 2 and Pro, as stated in the V72 release notes, in just two years of lifecycle this showcase an enshittification on their products. Early adopters beware. | Meta’s recent decision to discontinue support for physical keyboard tracking on the Quest 2 and Pro, as stated in the V72 release notes, in just two years of lifecycle this showcase an enshittification on their products. Early adopters beware. | ||
====Update on the Oculus Quest 1==== | |||
{{Main|Oculus (Meta) Quest 1 Deprecation}} | |||
The original Quest 1 from 2019 has been deprecated, after entering extended support in 2023. | |||
==Lawsuits<!-- I feel like this should follow the table format that I established with the Valve page -->== | ==Lawsuits<!-- I feel like this should follow the table format that I established with the Valve page -->== | ||