Oculus and data protection: Facebook stops sales of VR glasses in Germany

Facebook buys Oculus in 2014 and puts billions on the table for the VR glasses provider. So far, however, there has been no mass success. The US group is now threatened with trouble in Germany – because of data protection. Facebook responds in its own way.

Facebook has stopped selling VR glasses from its company Oculus in Germany until further notice. Talks with regulators are due, the online network announced. According to information from the "Welt", the trigger was the latest announcement that the Oculus profiles would be gradually linked to Facebook accounts. Facebook itself did not provide any information about the reasons for the sales stop. Nothing will change for previous owners of Oculus glasses, stressed the online network.

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The Hamburg data protection officer Johannes Caspar told the newspaper that the upcoming linking of the accounts was "extremely problematic" and referred to the European General Data Protection Regulation.

The German Facebook subsidiary is based in Hamburg, the business in Europe as a whole is carried out from Ireland – and thus the data protection officers there are ultimately responsible. Caspar now wants to forward the matter to them for further examination, wrote the "Welt". You would then have to submit a draft decision. Caspar does not expect a quick reaction: "Since no such proposal for a decision has been made in the last two years on the subject of the transfer of data between WhatsApp and Facebook, I have little confidence that a quick solution will be found."

Changes announced two weeks ago

Oculus is a leading provider of consumer glasses for so-called virtual reality (VR), where users can immerse themselves in digital worlds.

Facebook announced the changes a good two weeks ago. Previously, the Oculus profiles did not have to be linked to Facebook accounts. From October onwards, everyone who uses an Oculus device for the first time should register with a Facebook account. Existing users, on the other hand, have until January 1, 2023 to merge their Oculus and Facebook accounts, as the online network announced. But if you buy a new Oculus device during this time, it will only work if you log in via Facebook.

Two billion purchase

The step should help to integrate popular Facebook functions on Oculus glasses, Facebook had explained as the reason for the merger. The majority of users already log into Oculus with their Facebook account in order to be able to use functions such as chats and events, it said.

No more devices were sold on the Oculus website Tuesday. Remaining stocks of Oculus glasses could currently be available from other retailers, but none will be delivered to Germany, Facebook said. The Oculus business with companies is not affected.

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg made a big bet on the rapid advance of virtual reality (VR) when buying Oculus for more than two billion dollars in 2014, but it has remained a niche business so far.

. (tagsToTranslate) Economy (t) Facebook (t) Mark Zuckerberg (t) Data protection