Will The EU Protect Virtual Reality from Personal Data Scraping By Facebook?

News on the future VR from Germany to keep an eye on, albeit poorly translated via Google:

Oculus glasses: Facebook stops sales in Germany

The VR data from Oculus would add a new data dimension to the aforementioned super profiles - further problems with the cartel office and European data protection would be inevitable.

In addition, there is a coupling ban in Germany, which means that the use of one product must not be coupled with the use of another product from the same company if this is already dominant in the market. In the above-mentioned judgment of the BGH, the court also confirmed Facebook's dominant position in Germany. In this context, the German market for Facebook has a unique selling point in Europe.

This in contrast to the recent news that Facebook will soon require Facebook identity-based log-ins to use its VR devices, a sharp body blow to the future of virtual reality in general, not to mention extreme personal security concerns. But now, apparently, regulators in Germany (the European Union's wealthiest and most populous country) are putting the kibosh on that. 

If the EU as a whole follows suit, imposing similar protections on data usage on its half a billion citizens, I don't see how Oculus could sustain its Facebook log-in requirement. 

That might seem far-fetched, but have you noticed how, when you visit a website, you now have to click Accept to share your personal data? Even if you're in the United States, and even if it's a US-owned website? That's due to recently imposed EU regulations.

Hat tip: /VirtualReality on Reddit.

Comments

[Joey1058]

While the EU has the ability to slap Zuck's hands across the Atlantic, I'm not going to hold my breath for a change in policy in the US.

[Fionalein]

Hamlet asked: "Will The EU Protect Virtual Reality From Personal Data Scraping By Facebook?"
No. I'd rather guess EU regulations will bring FB towards scrapping Occulus faster than expected.