For the Jailbreak process, which provides root access to a device and is familiar to most of us from iPhones, “researchers” have stepped in this time for Facebook’s VR headset Oculus Quest 2, which went on sale on October 13. As it is known, Facebook made a Facebook account mandatory to use the Oculus Quest 2 headset with all its features, and they announced that they will discontinue device usage with just an Oculus.com account starting from January 2023.

XRSI , a non-profit organization that promotes privacy and security in the XR field, claimed to have verified a Quest 2 jailbreak method that provides full control over the device and can bypass the Facebook account requirement. Those who wish can read the full statement titled ‘ Defending the Right to Repair for XR ’ made by XRSI’s founder Kavya Pearlman through the group’s blog, Ready Hacker 1. Meanwhile, it is worth reminding that the jailbreak process does not mean you will be able to use apps and games for free as you wish. XRSI is a non-profit organization established to ensure the safe and inclusive use of VR, AR, and MR technologies under the umbrella of XR (extended reality).

This group, which advocates for a legal regulation known as the ‘ Right to Repair ’ in US laws and aims to allow the ability to repair and modify the electronic devices we purchase as consumers, seems to carry out its work for consumer protection and bases it on a legal ground. I am curiously waiting to see how Facebook will respond to this situation. I would like to share a section with you that caught my attention in their published article.

Unless there is ethical hacking of consumer electronics, our privacy, security, and data protection are left at the mercy of manufacturers. We all know that no system is 100% secure, and data breaches and privacy scandals in recent years show that we cannot fully trust technology companies for the protection and ethical use of our data. Therefore, it is truly crucial that researchers and ethical hackers are given the opportunity to repair these devices and find security vulnerabilities.

We live in a world of so-called big companies that send a password reset email after passwords become fodder for someone on the dark web and our most sensitive personal information is stolen, accepting no responsibility and often not even apologizing. Even though the money comes out of our pockets, we suffer the consequences of their mistakes. While the saying “getting disgraced with our own money” has unfortunately become the fate of consumers in today’s technology world, the emergence of such initiatives is very important to me. That’s why this news has a special significance for me.

Even if we are not aware of it, there is a ‘me’ living in the virtual world for all of us. And this is such a ‘me’ that it can even set states against each other. Because they want to be the sole owner of this power. That’s why I think taking ownership of this power should be among the priorities of every individual, not states or corporations, and that people need to raise awareness.