Privacy Evaluation for Oculus (No Meta)
48%
Overview
Oculus produces virtual reality headsets, including the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest devices. If you use a Facebook account (not an Oculus account) to access Oculus products, please visit the Oculus for Facebook privacy evaluation which has different policies and privacy practices. The terms of Oculus say there are many ways a user can express themselves and communicate with friends, family, and others – for example, sharing photos, creating or participating in events or multiplayer experiences, or adding content to a virtual environment.
The terms do not say whether Oculus can sell a user's data to third parties, but the terms do say Oculus may send users third-party marketing messages and track users for targeted advertising purposes. For example, the terms say third parties may collect information about a user's use of Oculus, including through the use of cookies, device IDs, local storage, pixels and other technologies, and this information may be collected over time and combined with information collected on other third-party websites and online services. The terms also say Oculus uses reasonable security practices and cookies to help keep a user's account, their data and the Oculus services safe and secure. The terms say that users can access, modify, and delete their personal information at any time, but children under 13 years of age are not allowed to use Oculus. Lastly, the terms do not discuss collection of student data or use by students in K-12 classrooms.
Oculus can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on Oculus’ website, iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.
Additionally, other policies used for this evaluation include:
- Privacy FAQ
- Oculus Store Terms
- Oculus Cookie Policy
- Conduct in VR Policy
- Oculus Platform Abuse Policy
Safety
The terms of Oculus say there are many ways a user can express themselves and communicate with friends, family, and others – for example, sharing photos, creating or participating in events or multiplayer experiences, or adding content to a virtual environment. The terms also say users should consider who they choose to share with, because people who are able to see a user's activity, content, or information on Oculus may choose to share it with others on and off the Oculus services. For example, when a user interacts with others in a multiplayer game, another player could choose to livestream that experience – including what that user is doing in the game – to Facebook. In addition, information a user posts to public areas of Oculus, such as a forum, blog, or other community tool, will also be visible to people on and off Oculus products. For example, when a user shares a photo or other content in a shared or public virtual space, other people who visit the space may be able to see it.
Privacy
The terms say when a user registers to use Oculus, the service may collect information such as a user's name, email address, phone number, and location information. In addition, Oculus may share recordings and transcripts of a user's voice interactions with third parties and service providers who assist Oculus in improving, troubleshooting, and training speech recognition systems.
In addition, the terms say biometric information may be collected about a user's environment, physical movements, and dimensions when they use an Oculus device. For example, when a user sets up the Oculus Guardian System to alert them when they approach a boundary, the service receives information about the play area that the user have defined. Also, when a user enables the hand tracking feature, the service also collects technical information like the user's estimated hand size and hand movement data to enable this feature. Also information about a user's physical interactions with Oculus is collected, like information about the people, games, content, apps, features, or other experiences a user interacts with, including information collected from content provided by third-party partners.
The terms do not say whether Oculus can sell a user's data to third parties, but the terms do say Oculus may send users third-party marketing messages and track users. For example, the terms say third parties may collect information about a user's use of Oculus, including through the use of cookies, device IDs, local storage, pixels and other technologies, and this information may be collected over time and combined with information collected on different websites and online services for targeted advertising purposes. Lastly, the terms also say Oculus can share information with Facebook to conduct and support research and innovation to further the state of the art or academic understanding of XR technology.
Security
The terms say Oculus uses reasonable security practices and cookies to help keep a user's account, their data and the Oculus services safe and secure. Oculus uses cookies to identify and impose additional security measures when someone may be attempting to access an Oculus account without authorization, for instance, by rapidly guessing different passwords. The terms say Oculus also uses cookies to store information that allows the service to recover a user's account in the event that they forget their password or to require additional authentication if a user's account has been hacked. The terms say Oculus uses cookies to fight spam and phishing attacks by enabling the service to identify computers engaging in suspicious activity. However, the terms do not say whether Oculus uses reasonable security practices such as encryption, but the terms do say notice is provided to users in the event of a data breach.
Compliance
The terms say that users can control their privacy settings through the services. In addition, the terms say that users can access, modify, and delete their personal information at any time through their organization, but children under 13 years of age are not allowed to use Oculus. However, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 may user the services but only with parental consent. Lastly, the terms do not discuss collection of student data or use by students in K-12 classrooms.
Rating
- Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
- Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
- Personalised advertising is displayed.
- Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
- User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 55%
What data does it collect?
- Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
- The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
- Unclear whether the collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
- Geolocation data are collected.
- Biometric or health data are collected.
- Interactions, behaviors, or usage analytics data are collected.
- Sensitive data are collected.
- Data is automatically collected.
- Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
- Personal information of users is collected by a third party.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 80%
What data does it share?
- Collected information is shared with third parties.
- The categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
- The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
- The categories of third parties that receive data are indicated.
- Data are shared for analytics.
- Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
- Third-party services are used to support the product.
- The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
- Third-party login is supported.
- Unclear whether contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 20%
How does it secure data?
- Unclear whether a user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
- Account creation is required.
- Unclear whether managed accounts are available.
- Unclear whether multi-factor account protection is available.
- Unclear whether third-parties with access to information are required to provide the same security protections as the company.
- Reasonable security practices are used to protect data.
- Unclear whether this product limits employee or physical access to user information.
- Unclear whether this product encrypts all data in transit.
- Unclear whether all data are stored in an encrypted format.
- Unclear whether this product provides notice in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 75%
What rights do I have to the data?
- Users can create or upload content.
- Users retain ownership of their data.
- Processes to access or review user data are available.
- Processes to modify data are available for authorized users.
- A data-retention policy is available.
- Processes for authorized users to delete data are available.
- A user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
- Data are deleted when no longer necessary.
- Unclear whether methods are available to restrict who has access to data.
- Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to download their data.
Data Sold
SCORE: 40%
Is the data sold?
- Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
- Users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
- User information can be transferred to a third party in the event of a merge, acquisition, or bankruptcy.
- Unclear whether users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.
- Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
- Unclear whether third-party transfers are contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
- User information that is shared is shared in an anonymous or de-identified format.
- The company describes their de-identification process of user information.
- Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
- Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying or de-identified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 65%
How safe is this product?
- Users can interact with trusted users.
- Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
- Profile information must be shared for social interactions.
- Personal information can be displayed publicly.
- Users can control how their data are displayed to others.
- User-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the company.
- Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
- Unclear whether social interactions between users are moderated.
- Social interactions of users are logged.
- Users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 50%
Are there advertisements or tracking?
- Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
- Unclear whether this product displays traditional or contextual advertisements.
- Personalised advertising is displayed.
- Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
- User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
- The company can send marketing messages.
- Unclear whether this company provides promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
- Users can opt out of contextual, or personalised advertising.
- Users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 20%
Can I provide parental consent?
- Not intended for children under 13.
- Personal information from children under 13 years of age is not collected.
- Unclear whether intended for parents or guardians.
- Unclear whether company has actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
- The company does not provide a section, heading, or separate policy for children in their policies.
- Unclear whether parental consent is required before personal information is collected or disclosed.
- Unclear whether this product limits parental consent with respect to third parties.
- Unclear whether this product allows parents to withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
- Unclear whether this product deletes children's personal information if collected without parental consent.
- Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 0%
Is the product intended for school?
- Unclear whether intended for students.
- Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
- Unclear whether intended for teachers.
- Unclear whether this product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
- Processes to enter education records into the product are not described.
- Unclear whether additional rights or protections may be provided with an additional school contract.
- Unclear whether the company is designated as a school official.
- Unclear whether this product transfers parental consent obligations to the school or district.
Individual Control
SCORE: 20%
Can I control the use of my data?
- Users can control the use of their information through privacy settings.
- Unclear whether use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
- The context or purpose for which data are collected is indicated.
- Unclear whether company may combine data with additional data from third-party sources.
- Unclear whether this product treats combined information as personally identifiable information (PII).
- Unclear whether notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.
- Unclear whether consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.
- Unclear whether a grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.
- Unclear whether users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties.
- Unclear whether notice is provided in the event the company receives a government or legal request for a user's information.
Common Sense Standard Privacy Report (SPR)
The standard privacy report (SPR) displays all the privacy practices from a product's policies in a single, easy-to-read outline. The report shows a green check mark for better privacy practices and an orange alert for risky or unclear practices. This alert indicates that more time should be focused on these particular details prior to use.
About Privacy Evaluations
The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to help educators make informed decisions about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.
Our core evaluation criteria will always be freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and our information security primer. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process. Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.