New VR Behavior Policy: Do not invade someone's personal space!

[Zenbane]

Facebook's VR use policy was updated recently, and now includes information about invading personal space, and other types of improper gestures.

https://support.oculus.com/1694069410806625/

Facebook’s newly updated ‘Conduct in VR Policy‘ highlights that you should not “harass or bully other users” by “invading personal space without consent,” nor should you “conduct yourself in an offensive or abusive way,” including making “sexual gestures.”

Repeated of flagrant abuses of the rules can result in suspensions or outright bans, which fully revoke your ability to use your headset. These rules apply in everything you do in the headset, whether you’re playing a social VR experience, a competitive multiplayer VR game, or even streaming a single player experience for others to watch on Facebook Live.
https://www.roadtovr.com/facebook-expanded-vr-policies-oculus-quest-2-privacy-policy-terms-of-servic...

No doubt that this will only add fuel to the fires currently burning around the controversy between:

• Banned from a Social Media Service
• Banned from using a piece of Hardware you purchased

I agree that this is very problematic. I would personally be upset if Facebook banned my Account and tried to lock me out of my headset. But I also have a fairly strong sense of the types of behavior and should and should not be doing when interacting with others. And considering that I am far from a model student for "good behavior," I still can't help but wonder what types of things truly trigger a Facebook ban, outside of blatantly obvious rule violations. Until this ban/lockout happens to me, though, I feel like I don't have much of a dog in this fight.

What does interest me from all of this... is that "convergence" of VR and Real Life. At this stage, Oculus VR is being treated like a "real world." And violating rules, much like violating Laws, is having real consequences that can limit ones freedoms. When I set aside the moral dilemma around Consumer Rights, I can't help but thing... wow! How far we have come with technology.

With a ban from Oculus VR, not only are you prevented from using a product, but you are no longer allowed to "exist" in a Social Space that goes beyond a mere flat screen. That's kinda crazy, and gives a small glimpse of the future for humanity, virtual worlds, and Artificial Intelligence.

[DaftnDirect]

So far we've just had word of the policy for behaviour. For interventions Facebook's code of conduct explains that an intervention would happen of there have been multiple complaints, banning is unlikely to happen with any single infraction but I guess it depends on the severity.

I totally agree that interventions need to be graduated depending on what's happened. That's probably why the record facility will be implemented in Horizon so users can provide something that can be properly judged.

Allowing a teenage member of the family for example to use your account to interact socially with others is going to be the responsibility of the account holder. The more social abilities VR has, the more responsibility the account holder has.

[jab]

The core of the problem her is actually pretty simple. FB is applying their already questionable free social network rules to HW products and games, and that makes no sense what so ever. Being a d**k in Horizon or FB general should get you banned from that particular app, but it should definitively not make your VR headset a paperweight. What is next? Nike only allowing shoes to be sold to attractive people to maintain their PR image?

[Shadowmask72]

But what happened to VR being an escape from reality, a place for fun and games, not this regulated extension of reality. Surely a simple block/mute user option is suffice? That kid blowing kisses, confetti and talking trash is having a whale of a time, except noone can see him/her and he/she is talking to him/herself.

 😞 

[DaftnDirect]

I think what's happened over the past couple of years where companies and individuals have boycotted Facebook because of a perceived lack of action over applying rules has meant they've decided to start VR off on more firm guidelines and codes of conduct.

Blocking is going to be possible in Horizon iirc but multiple blocks would trigger a moderator to look at what was causing those blocks to happen.

[kevinw729]

It would seem Facebook is using this new situation to test the waters and establish the foundation moving forward - marrying their free social media platform rules to a hardware / software purchase. It is a very important point where the individuals voice can be heard, and I think its important that users state how they feel so the word gets back to those making these decisions. 

[Fazz]

saami81 said:

Some apps/games have option for personal bubble, so no one can come into skin. I think that would be better option, than banning. Also i have heard rumours about something called "mute" and "ignore". People can use those, if they get easily offended.

This has been the thing for I don't know how long now and is all you really need. I think in VR Chat, for example all you do is click on someone who is acting like an idiot and make them disappear. I think what Facebook is looking for is heaven in VR where nobody does anything wrong, even though we all know the best of people make mistakes in life. If you don't want things like personal space invaded, then Facebook should just add it into the program like Alt Space does. Having to go running to a mod to say your personal space has been invaded is a bit daft when you can just add it into the program and take action before it even occurs.

[Zenbane]

jab said:

The core of the problem her is actually pretty simple. FB is applying their already questionable free social network rules to HW products and games, and that makes no sense what so ever. Being a d**k in Horizon or FB general should get you banned from that particular app, but it should definitively not make your VR headset a paperweight. What is next? Nike only allowing shoes to be sold to attractive people to maintain their PR image?

Fair points, and I would still qualify to buy and wear Nike in that scenario  😉

But just as the core of the problem is pretty simple, so is the solution: Don't buy Facebook products.

If Facebook ever locks me out of my hardware/software, then that would be the last day I use anything branded by Facebook. Until then though, I'm fine exercising my consumer right to choose. 

[jab]

Zenbane said:
But just as the core of the problem is pretty simple, so is the solution: Don't buy Facebook products.

And that is exactly what I am doing. I have put the DK1, DK2 and CV1 on the shelf for sentimental reasons, and just sold my Quest. The Rift-S was never on the radar, and Quest 2 is so far of the radar you would need a space telescope to find it.

And when the FB login requirement hit this forum, you will all no longer have to read my rambling posts going on about privacy and user rights etc.. 🙂

[Zenbane]

jab said:

And when the FB login requirement hit this forum, you will all no longer have to read my rambling posts going on about privacy and user rights etc.. 🙂

It's quite common for people who are against Facebook to remain on a Facebook platform. It happens on Facebook all the time. Facebook itself doesn't really care if people speak out against Facebook. As long as people are using Facebook, even to speak out against Facebook, then Facebook gains value.

Very few consumers actually exercise their privacy and user rights.

[kevinw729]

jab said:
.....

And when the FB login requirement hit this forum, you will all no longer have to read my rambling posts going on about privacy and user rights etc.. 🙂

In the same boat brother.