Meta: Difference between revisions
Added further information about that the Meta Quest headsets are not usable at all if you don't connect them to the internet and create an login an account. If Meta decides to kill the headsets to generate more profit they just need to disable the login so new customers and customers who reset their software are left with a bricked piece of trash. |
Added section about Linux ban, some comments, and a small layout tweak |
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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. | ||
== | == Anti-consumer practices == | ||
===Oculus VR Facebook account requirement=== | === Facebook <!-- Wow, we got a lot to list here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook#Criticisms_and_controversies --> === | ||
==== The Linux Ban ==== | |||
In January of 2025, Meta updated their internal policies to recognize the [[free and open source software]] and operating system Linux as a "cybersecurity threat".<ref name=":1">https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20250127#sitenews</ref><ref>https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/facebook-flags-linux-topics-as-cybersecurity-threats-posts-and-users-being-blocked</ref> As part of this, many Facebook users have had their accounts either locked or muted over merely speaking of Linux, most notably DistroWatch.<ref name=":1" /> Many have called this out as irony, since Meta's infrastructure mostly runs off of Linux.<ref>https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/28/facebook_blocks_distrowatch/</ref> | |||
=== Meta Oculus VR === | |||
==== Oculus VR Facebook account requirement ==== | |||
In 2014, Meta acquired Oculus VR for approximately $2 billion, which was known for developing the Oculus Rift and other virtual-reality (VR) products. Before the acquisition, users could create and use Oculus accounts to access their VR content. This allowed users more control over their privacy and data, without needing to use Facebook. | In 2014, Meta acquired Oculus VR for approximately $2 billion, which was known for developing the Oculus Rift and other virtual-reality (VR) products. Before the acquisition, users could create and use Oculus accounts to access their VR content. This allowed users more control over their privacy and data, without needing to use Facebook. | ||
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Additionally to all of this the headsets are not usable at all without connecting them to the Internet and logging them into a Meta/Facebook account when the owner wants to use it for the first time after purchase. This creates the risk that the headsets will be indefinitely unusable, or at least not to be able to be set up after a reset of the software, if Meta theoretically decides to shutdown the authentication or login servers. | Additionally to all of this the headsets are not usable at all without connecting them to the Internet and logging them into a Meta/Facebook account when the owner wants to use it for the first time after purchase. This creates the risk that the headsets will be indefinitely unusable, or at least not to be able to be set up after a reset of the software, if Meta theoretically decides to shutdown the authentication or login servers. | ||
===''Echo VR'' shutdown and Ready At Dawn=== | ==== ''Echo VR'' shutdown and Ready At Dawn ==== | ||
''Echo VR'' was a VR e-sports title centered around zero-gravity physics, developed by Ready At Dawn Studios.<ref>[https://www.meta.com/experiences/echo-vr/2215004568539258/ "Echo VR - About Page"] - meta.com</ref> The game released on July 20, 2017, on the Oculus Rift store, before being ported over to the Meta Quest platform (formerly the Oculus Quest platform) on May 5, 2020. | ''Echo VR'' was a VR e-sports title centered around zero-gravity physics, developed by Ready At Dawn Studios.<ref>[https://www.meta.com/experiences/echo-vr/2215004568539258/ "Echo VR - About Page"] - meta.com</ref> The game released on July 20, 2017, on the Oculus Rift store, before being ported over to the Meta Quest platform (formerly the Oculus Quest platform) on May 5, 2020. | ||
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Despite Ready At Dawn's claims, there have been no other project released following the shutdown. The studio proceeded to suffer major layoffs and, in August 2024, Meta shut down Ready At Dawn Studios itself, blaming Oculus Studios' budgetary constraints.<ref>[https://www.androidcentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/ready-at-dawn-studios-closing "Exclusive: Meta is closing a beloved first-party Quest studio"] - androidcentral.com - 8 Aug 2024 </ref> | Despite Ready At Dawn's claims, there have been no other project released following the shutdown. The studio proceeded to suffer major layoffs and, in August 2024, Meta shut down Ready At Dawn Studios itself, blaming Oculus Studios' budgetary constraints.<ref>[https://www.androidcentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/ready-at-dawn-studios-closing "Exclusive: Meta is closing a beloved first-party Quest studio"] - androidcentral.com - 8 Aug 2024 </ref> | ||
==Lawsuits== | ==Lawsuits<!-- I feel like this should follow the table format that I established with the Valve page -->== | ||
===''United States of America v. Facebook''=== | ===''United States of America v. Facebook''=== | ||