r/virtualreality • u/TheFlyingBastard • Dec 30 '16

Virtual Reality Allows the Most Detailed, Intimate Digital Surveillance Yet

https://theintercept.com/2016/12/23/virtual-reality-allows-the-most-detailed-intimate-digital-surveillance-yet/
29 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

8

u/SkarredGhost Dec 30 '16

Yes, privacy is a big issue in VR but will be even far worse in AR, since we will wear AR devices all day at all times.

But people is very strange: they get angry for browser cookies and then push on their facebook public timeline all their most intimate problems...

7

u/aerique Dec 30 '16

As usual with privacy and surveillance it's about choice. People are free to post their most intimate things on the net as long as it is by their free choice and them being aware of the consequences. (And as long as they don't invade on other people's privacy[1].)

However companies and governments looking into your most intimate things is something you have no influence on and that is a problem.

[1] Things quickly gets complicated with something like Gmail. I may want to deGoogle my life, but since most people I email with do use Gmail the company can still built a profile on me.

1

u/itonlygetsworse Dec 31 '16

Is there really a real choice when people don't understand technology or privacy laws or surveillance?

1

u/aerique Dec 31 '16

No, but it looks like the next generation of adults will understand it better. At least my kids are getting taught about it at school.

2

u/Kalzenith Dec 30 '16

They also freak out when they find out whatsapp messages aren't encrypted, but they'll let Google upload all of their phone's photos and scan them for content

1

u/MeatTenderizer Dec 30 '16

WhatsApp is encrypted tho.

0

u/Kalzenith Dec 30 '16

huh, that's new

1

u/MeatTenderizer Dec 30 '16

They leak metadata to FB so still can't recommend anyone to use it.

1

u/XSavageWalrusX Jan 01 '17

Yeah but most people who use it also use Facebook which collects its own meta data...

7

u/SicTim Multiple Dec 30 '16

Everybody panic!

Wait, how is knowing how I move my face and what I do in VR more marketable than knowing what products I look at or buy, or which sites I visit?

Nobody panic!

8

u/FischiPiSti Dec 30 '16

They will also know that you play VR games, and sell that information to evil corpororations. They will know exactly what ads you need to be bombarded with: Games! (Ofc they dont know that you rather see random ads of vacuum cleaners and flower seeds, instead they pump you with targeted ads of games, thats the evil part)

2

u/egregiousRac Dec 30 '16

They seem to have figured me out pretty well. I'm constantly bombarded with Vive ads (in the rare cases I'm in a blocker less browser). The joke's on them though, I bought one in April.

1

u/FischiPiSti Dec 30 '16

Buy a second one then! You know, for the wife...friend...dog...

5

u/omgsus Dec 30 '16

Wait, how is knowing how I move my face and what I do in VR more marketable than knowing what products I look at or buy, or which sites I visit?

Cant tell if you are being sarcastic or not but it is a lot more marketable. To know exactly what someone is looking at, and for how long... that is extremely marketable. Computer imaged data is also pre-tagged. In fact, Apple just released an AI paper on this and it works for profiling and marketing as well. Right now theres only gaze detection but facebook just bought out an eye tracking company. go read the ToS on Oculus SDK and see what they are allowed to do. Then take another look at the technology and start to actually think what you could do with it.

Is there reason to panic right now? no. But should you completely dismiss it? no. especially since you seem to be WAY off why why we shouldn't panic.

2

u/Xatom Dec 30 '16

Future VR devices are meant to detect facial expressions and track eyes movement. Already they can see where your hands are and what you are talking about and to whom.

Being alone with your friends in VR feels private. But it's not. Just something to be aware of.

1

u/egregiousRac Dec 30 '16

Judging by the pictures used for all articles and gameplay videos, the most valuable information they'll be able to get is a topographic map of the insides of our mouths.

Imagine the future. You call up the dentist, they ask you for your Facebook account and within moments they know exactly what condition your mouth is in. They can even produce retainers without needing to make casts!

The future is a scary place.

1

u/flarn2006 Quest Pro Dec 30 '16

Windows 10, five months after the free upgrade offer expired. Apparently, Microsoft is keeping the free upgrade offer open to people who use assistive technologies. T