Meta Quest
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Meta's virtual and mixed reality headsets.
We couldn't confirm where Meta Quest makes most of its virtual reality headsets.
Also worth knowing
Most electronics are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
Better-graded laptops and computers
Graded higher than Meta Quest, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
No laptops and computers brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Meta Quest? Send a right of reply.
Compare Meta Quest with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere electronics are usually made, such as China and Malaysia, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Probably made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
We couldn't confirm where Meta Quest makes most of its products, so this shows where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 55% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South Korea | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| India | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold mining carry child and forced labour risk (DR Congo, Indonesia), and assembly overtime is widespread.
- Modern slavery statement
- Publishes its mineral smelter list and uses independently audited smelters (RMAP) for tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold
- It publishes its smelters or uses some recycled or responsibly mined metals, but can't yet trace its cobalt and gold to the mine.
Research notes Quest headsets are made by third-party contract manufacturers; Meta does not name its factories or countries, though Goertek in China is reported as its manufacturer. Meta is an RBA member, requires suppliers to follow the RBA code, runs worker surveys at some suppliers and reports 205 of 221 3TG smelters as RMAP-conformant for 2025, but publishes no supplier list, audit numbers or living wage commitment, and says working hours are the most common audit finding.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Meta's 2026 anti-slavery statement covers Meta Australia Pty Ltd under the Modern Slavery Act; it gives no audit counts. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | The same statement covers Facebook U.K. Ltd. under the UK Modern Slavery Act. View |
| KnowTheChain | Not listed | Meta is not among the 45 companies in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Meta and Oculus were not in the 2016 Electronics Industry Report, the last edition (series ended). View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Amazon suppliers linked to forced labour in Xinjiang (BHRRC, 2022) · search the archive · Luxshare, AcBel and Lens Technology, suppliers of Amazon devices, linked to Uyghur labour transfers 2017-2020
- 2025 KnowTheChain ICT Benchmark (BHRRC) · search the archive · List of 45 companies benchmarked; Meta not included
- Meta Conflict Minerals Report for 2025 (SEC Form SD, 2026) · search the archive · Covers VR products; outsourced to contract manufacturers; 205 of 221 smelters RMAP-conformant; no cobalt
- Meta denies it plans to outsource Quest headset design to China (UploadVR, 2024) · search the archive · Describes Goertek as Meta's Chinese manufacturer for Quest headsets
- Meta Quest 3S (JB Hi-Fi) · search the archive · Quest headsets sold at JB Hi-Fi stores in Australia
Published by Meta Quest or its owner
- Meta Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2026 · search the archive · Covers Meta Australia; RBA and RLI member; working hours most common finding; worker surveys; no audit counts
- Meta Responsible Supply Chain · search the archive · Third-party audits and RBA Responsible Factory Initiative for Reality Labs suppliers; no supplier list
Company details
- Owned by
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Meta Quest ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/meta-quest, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Meta Quest.