Your Smart TV Knows What You’re Watching – The Markup
themarkup.org
Here’s how to turn off “automated content recognition,” the Shazam-like software on smart TVs that tracks what you’re watching

These TVs can capture and identify 7,200 images per hour, or approximately two every second. The data is then used for content recommendations and ad targeting, which is a huge business; advertisers spent an estimated $18.6 billion on smart TV ads in 2022, according to market research firm eMarketer.

  • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
    17·
    2 years ago

    So… Can someone explain how this is legal if you’re watching DRM content? Capturing and uploading copyrighted, protected content doesn’t seem very kosher.

    advertisers spent an estimated $18.6 billion on smart TV ads

    Jesus. Spend a fraction of that developing good products that people will actually want to buy so you can end this unethical, scumbag way of making a buck.

  • sic_semper_tyrannis@feddit.chEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    NextDNS has a blocklist you can enable to block telemetry for Roku TVs FYI. You can also get a dumb TV or keep your TV offline and have a separate Kodi box for your shows.

  • Metal Zealot@lemmy.ml
    4·
    2 years ago

    I have my old (stupid) tv from like 2013, works perfectly fine. No apps, no firmware, no ads, no tracking. Never felt the need to buy a smart tv, but I’m afraid it’d be near impossible to find a new one that isn’t nowadays I’d mine broke down.

    • Max-P@lemmy.max-p.me
      3·
      2 years ago

      This is the only reason I have a smart TV. I didn’t want one, in fact it prompted me to make an SSID and VLAN just for it, then applied a bunch of DNS blocks. Unfortunately my old 2012 TV wasn’t worth shipping across the country and the image was getting pretty dim and it had started developing dead pixels.

      If you want anything above 1080p that’s a dumb TV you have to go commercial like the hospitality market and they charge you way more for it. And they won’t even sell it to you without a corporate account in most places.

      The only way to get 4K and HDR without the smarts as a consumer is to buy a giant gaming monitor… and those too ask for quite a premium, because gamers.

      • Stantana@lemmy.sambands.net
        1·
        2 years ago

        Tbf, gaming monitors usually have higher refresh rate compared to regular monitors. So it’s not just RGB lights and racing stripes that accounts for the extra cost.

        • Max-P@lemmy.max-p.me
          2·
          2 years ago

          Yeah but they do still end up pretty expensive. I was able to score a black friday 65" 4K HDR 1000 nits 120 Hz FreeSync TV with local dimming for $700. Not the best but given I don’t use it that often or for very long I didn’t want it to turn into a big investment.

          I’m sure it’s pretty average but for my use case it worked out pretty good.

    • jeanofthedead@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      I really likr the last few firmware updates that my TV received. But apart from checking for updates every few months, I agree that keeping it blocked in my router settings is ideal.

      • pipariturbiini@sopuli.xyz
        0·
        2 years ago

        Doesn’t that kind of beat the purpose? The device can just store telemetric data and send them in batches whenever you connect it.

        • jeanofthedead@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          2 years ago

          My Sony runs AndroidTV and uses NextDNS to block telemetry and the like. The features that I received with the last few updates enabled VRR, improved clarity and Dolby Vision, etc. So it was definitely worth it.

    • natebluehooves@pawb.social
      4·
      2 years ago

      It’s extremely difficult to find a dumb tv in sizes larger than ~55”. You really don’t have much choice at the moment. I personally host a jellyfin server and play that via apple tv over hdmi, but content recognition still does its thing. Best i could do was deny wifi/ethernet to the tv and have no open networks.

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
        1·
        2 years ago

        Yes, do exactly this. If you have AppleTV connected to your TV over HDMI or whatever, why does your TV need an internet connection?

  • lemmyBeHere@lemmy.world
    2·
    2 years ago

    Good. Have fun uploading any information about me without wifi or an ethernet cable. Smart TVs were a mistake, even the most expensive ones are slow and trash.

  • Vej@lemm.ee
    2·
    2 years ago

    I am so glad I don’t have a TV. It’s just the Internet with even more ads, minus the Internet.

    • ivanafterall@kbin.social
      2·
      2 years ago

      It doesn’t have to be. I get everything for free, no subscriptions, no ads. I’m pretty happy with the deal.

    • ILurkAndIKnowThings@lemmy.ml
      3·
      2 years ago

      A TV that is not connected to the internet is effectively just a large monitor.

      I understand that some TVs lock functionality and coerce you into connecting it to the network, but most of them function well as monitors. I know it’s tempting to make use of the “smart” features since it’s included, but if you care about privacy, it’s better to keep it off the internet.