Posted on 12/18/2023 8:20:02 AM PST by Red Badger
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Smart TVs are a real bargain these days and prices keep dropping. Despite TV’s getting better with more functionality, brighter pictures, and more features, prices for some TVs have dropped thousands of dollars in the past few years. Why? The reason is also the answer to the question “are smart TVs spying on us?”
In a manner of speaking, smart TVs do watch us while we watch TV. But not how you might think. Most TVs do not have cameras with the exception of many SAMSUNG models but even those sets aren’t actually watching you through the cameras.
The reason prices have dropped is that manufacturers can sell TVs at a loss because of “post-purchase monetization.” That means manufacturers continue to earn revenue for as long as you own and use the TV by gathering and selling information and data to advertisers.
Smart TVs track what people are watching, how long they watch certain programs, movies, and sporting events, and even what they search for with the remotes.
Let’s say you watch a lot of sports. Manufacturers share that information with advertisers who can target sports fans with specific ads they’re likely interested in. Since the ads target a specific audience, those ads are more valuable and can be sold at a higher price to advertisers.
Before you worry too much, the information gathered is not tied to a person’s name. But if you’re not using a VPN to hide your IP address, it could be tied to every computer, device, and TV connected to your home’s WiFi and internet connection.
That makes it very possible that an advertiser could target you with ads based on what you watch on TV with specific ads on social media, internet browser, and email.
It’s all about gathering information to sell targeted ads to people interested in what the advertiser is selling.
If that is TMI (too much information) being shared for your comfort, you can turn off data collection on many TVs. Go into your TV settings and look for “privacy”, then turn off “data tracking”, or turn on “limit tracking”. The exact language is going to vary from one TV brand to the other.
Or, if you’re really concerned you can unplug the TV from the internet that will prevent any information being gathered and shared. But your TV will lose all functionality of a smart TV and cannot connect to any streaming service.
To find out if your TV has a camera, consult the user’s manual.
This isn’t about just devices. It’s products like www.segment.com - they provide software libraries for Android/iOS based devices (so includes TV’s) so that analytics & data tracking can be baked into any application.
I’m currently working with source code using this, the application is for thermostat control over wifi.
How many of your applications are tracking you? My guess is most of them.
See my post #21.
It’s not so much the OS, it’s the applications....although not having internet access on goes a long way.
I’m wondering... I use Roku. If I turn off the TV Wifi, I think the Roku would still work. (But I bet the Roku stick is doing the same thing...)
We’re being monetized. And we’re paying for it.
My “smart” (ahem) TV is rarely used. It’s usually unplugged, and it’s not connected to the internet.
They get no valid data from me. My TV is on 24/7 and I usually have no idea what is showing. I just like the white noise in the background, especially when sleeping.
“Is your SmartTV spying on you?”
no ... my smart tv is disconnected from the internet and used only as a dumb monitor ... however, i have no doubt my roku box and satellite box are spying on me; however, they can report only what i watch ...
The real Elvis did it with a .45.
>...however, they can report only what I watch ...<
That’s what they want you to think...................🤦♂️😉😎
If someone has a desperate need to keep tabs on an old boring homesteader they really need to get a life!
Onion/Tor browser fixes that.
They all have a Linux kernel. And WebOS can be rooted, just like Android. https://rootmy.tv/
Snowden made the case that no software can save you—one layer is hack is the hardware in the factory.
Has to be something like that. As others have pointed out, the phone has to be listening all the time so it can hear you say, “Hey, Google,” or whatever.
For all the good that’ll do. TV stations aren’t supposed to turn up the volume of commercials, either, for about the last 60 or 70 years.
I talk on my android phone and will soon see programs related on what I talked about on the Youtube channel I watch thru the Roku box. Also shows up on the computer at Youtube.
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