What VRChat's terms say
VRChat's terms of service and privacy policy have 17 rated points: 1 serious, 5 bad, 8 worth knowing and 3 good. 9 apply whenever you use the site, signed in or not; 8 only once you have an account.
Whenever you use VRChat
Bad 4
Your personal data may be used for marketing purposes
The privacy policy states, that VRChat may use your Personal Information for marketing purposes, such as developing and providing promotional and advertising materials that may be useful, relevant, valuable or otherwise of interest to you.
Where it says this ↗You are tracked via web beacons, tracking pixels, browser fingerprinting, and/or device fingerprinting
The privacy policy states, that VRChat: "[...] may also automatically record certain information from your device by using various types of technology, including “tracking pixels" or “web beacons. [...] We may also display third-party content on the Platform. Third-party content may use cookies, web beacons, or other mechanisms for obtaining data in connection with your viewing of the third-party content on the Platform. Additionally, we may implement third-party buttons (such as Facebook “like” or “share” buttons) that may function as web beacons even when you do not interact with the button. Information collected through third-party web beacons and buttons is collected directly by these third parties, not by VRChat. Information collected by a third party in this manner is subject to that third party’s own data collection, use, and disclosure policies".
Where it says this ↗Your data is processed and stored in a country that is less friendly to user privacy protection
The privacy policy states, that: "[...] your Personal Information is processed and stored outside of those regions, in particular in the United States. Also, we may transfer your data from the United States to other countries or regions in connection with storage and processing of data, fulfilling your requests, and operating the Platform. By providing any information, including Personal Information, on or to the Platform, you agree with such transfer, storage, and processing." The policy later states that: "If you are located in Europe, we will comply with applicable European data protection laws when transferring your Personal Information outside of Europe", but that only covers the transfer, not the processing and storage of data.
Where it says this ↗Your personal information is used for many different purposes
The privacy policy states, that: "We (VRChat) collect, use, and disclose Personal Information for the following purposes: Providing you access to the Platform. [...] Securing and protecting the Platform. [...] Enforcing the Terms of Service. [...] Communicating with you. [...] Maintaining, fixing, and improving the Platform. [...] Understanding Platform usage and personalizing your experience. [...] Advertising and marketing to you. [...] Evaluating your job application. [...] Facilitating purchases and payouts. [...] Facilitating Promotions. [...] Meeting our legal obligations. [...] Other purposes. We may also use Personal Information for other purposes for which we provide specific notice at the time the Personal Information is collected.
Where it says this ↗
Worth knowing 3
Spidering, crawling, or accessing the site through any automated means is not allowed
The terms of service state, that: 'By using the Platform, you agree not to use any engine, software tool, agent, device, or mechanism (including any robot, spambot, spider, crawler, scraper, or other automated means or interface) not provided by us to access, search, or otherwise use any portion of the Platform or to extract data;'
Where it says this ↗Your IP address is collected, which can be used to view your approximate location
The privacy policy states, that VRChat: "The information we collect via such cookies and similar technologies (“Cookies”) may include your IP address [...] we may use your IP address to obtain general information about the physical location from which you are connecting to the Internet."
Where it says this ↗Do Not Track (DNT) headers are ignored and you are tracked anyway even if you set this header
Do Not Track (DNT) headers are ignored and you are tracked anyway even if you set this header.
The privacy policy states, that: " [...] VRChat does not process or respond to web browsers’ “do not track” signals or other similar transmissions that indicate a request to disable online tracking of users who use our Platform."
Where it says this ↗
Good 2
Information is provided about how your personal data is collected
Information is provided about how they collect personal data
The privacy policy states that when using the Platform, including participation in different “rooms” [...] you may disclose Personal Information to them and to other users of the Platform. This may occur when you engage in conversations, chats, or other user-to-user interactions. We may collect and use this information to the extent permitted by law.
Where it says this ↗A list of all cookies used by the service is provided
A list of all cookies set by the website is provided
The Privacy policy states, that: "[..] the types of Cookies we may use: Functional Cookies. [...] 'Auth', a Cookie enabling us to identify you [...] 'apiKey', a Cookie enabling us to verify whether you are allowed to use the VRChat API; 'twoFactorAuth', a Cookie enabling us to remember that you have logged in to the Platform using two-factor authentication [...] Squarespace’s “crumb” session Cookie, enabling us to ensure the security of the Platform. Analytical Cookies. [...] 'amplitude.id.****', a Cookie enabling us to collect information about your usage of the Platform in order to enhance your experience on the Platform."
Where it says this ↗
If you have a VRChat account
Serious 1
Specific content can be deleted without reason and may be removed without prior notice
The terms of service state, that: "VRChat may, however, at any time and without prior notice, screen, remove, edit, or block any User Content that in our sole judgment violates this TOS or is otherwise objectionable. If notified by a user or content owner that User Content allegedly does not conform to this TOS, we may investigate the allegation and determine in our sole discretion whether to remove the User Content, which we reserve the right to do at any time and without notice."
Where it says this ↗
Bad 1
Your account can be deleted or permanently suspended without prior notice and without a reason
Your account can be deleted without prior notice and without a reason
The terms of service state, that: 'VRChat may in its sole discretion terminate your User Account on the Platform or suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without notice.'
Where it says this ↗
Worth knowing 5
Your content can be distributed through any media known now or in the future
section 9.2. Limited License Grant to VRChat. By posting, publishing, or otherwise developing User Content in the Platform, you grant VRChat a worldwide, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, perpetual, fully paid right and license (with the right to sublicense) to host, store, transfer, display, perform, reproduce, modify for the purpose of formatting for display, and distribute your User Content, in whole or in part, in any media formats and through any media channels now known or hereafter developed. You agree that the license granted to VRChat under this Section 9.2 applies to any User Content you previously posted, published, or otherwise developed in the Platform.
Where it says this ↗You must create an account to use this service
The Terms of Service states, that: "To access most features of the Platform, you must register for an account."
Where it says this ↗The posting of pornographic content is prohibited
The terms of service state that: "your User Content could not be deemed by a reasonable person to be [...] objectionable, profane, indecent, pornographic, [...] or otherwise inappropriate." and that: "By using the Platform, you agree not to: [...] Post, upload, or distribute any User Content or other content that [...] a reasonable person could deem to be objectionable, profane, indecent, pornographic, [...] or otherwise inappropriate.". The community guidelines also reinforce that pornographic content is not allowed, It is stated: "Pornography & nudity is not allowed."
Where it says this ↗You must report to the service any unauthorized use of your account or any breach of security
The terms of service state, that: " [...] if you have reason to believe that your Account is no longer secure, then you must immediately notify us at [email protected]."
Where it says this ↗This service has a no refund policy with some exceptions
This service has a no refund policy, except as required by applicable law.
The Terms of Service states, that: "All payments that you make for Credits, whether to VRChat or a third-party payment processor, are final and not refundable or exchangeable, except as required by applicable law. "
Where it says this ↗
Good 1
You maintain ownership of your content
The terms of service state, that: "As between you and VRChat, you retain copyright and any other proprietary rights in the User Content you Post, subject to the licenses granted in this TOS or in any other agreement between you and VRChat."
Where it says this ↗
The documents
Ratings by ToS;DR volunteers; they can lag behind the current terms. Not legal advice.