It’s easy to forget that Oculus, the pioneering virtual reality company, is owned by Facebook, but a close look at the Rift headset’s terms and conditions may serve as a stark reality check. The Independent reports that installing Oculus Rift software on your PC gives Facebook the right to track all your VR activity and use that data for marketing.
Facebook can see when you’re using the headset, and then track your physical movements and other actions in VR. It can also record your location and gather data about the PC you’re using to power the experience. Then it may use that information to serve you ads both in and outside the Oculus Rift platform.
“We use the information we collect to send you promotional messages and content and otherwise market to you on and off our Services,” the official terms read. “We also use this information to measure how users respond to our marketing efforts.”
The terms and conditions also note that Facebook can send this information to advertisers. It can even share it across the company’s other properties, like WhatsApp.
None of this comes as a huge surprise considering Facebook’s involvement and the company’s huge focus on targeted advertising. Still, it’s a clear reminder that even virtual reality won’t provide an escape from the world of marketing.
