Your Smart TV Knows What You’re Watching
Your Smart TV Knows What You’re Watching
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.
Purchase the nicest screen you can and then hook it up to a HTPC.
You can get a Beelink mini PC for $150-$700. I have a quad core Celeron gen 11 that can handle up to QHD/2K H264/5 video fine, but stutters on 4k. I bought it ($159) knowing that because power draw is my main concern (offgrid/batteries).
When I have an Internet connection I use Jdownloader for YouTube, and Sonaar / Couch Potato / Headphones / SabNZB for everything else.
Rounding that out is a Cable capable USB HDTV card that I use for local OTA TV.
I'm running LibreELEC with some customizations I've done for my personal workflow.
Can't recommend it enough. Fuck the marketing predators that lurk in what you 'own'.
My two smart TV’s are the most blocked devices by my network’s pihole. It’s not even close.
The first two are my two TVs, (one is a Samsung, the other is a Roku,) and the third is my phone that I’ve been doomscrolling on all day. The “better” TV has almost 3x as many blocked requests as my phone, even though I only used my TV for about an hour today.
"Are you watching the TV, or is the TV watching you?"
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.
laughs in crtv and dvd player
I leave the TV on all day for the cats, I'm sure they're getting lots of useful data while they sleep in front of MASH reruns
It says in the article there's a privacy request option if you own a samsung tv. I went ahead and sent a request to not sell my data, although not sure if it's effective since I'm not in CA.
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.
Doesn't mention what circumstances it's tracking your watching habits. If you're watching an obscure movie on DVD, is it still looking at frames? Does it have to be through a streaming service being run on the TV? Does it recognize content being run on modern game consoles? Not a very informative article.
SmartTV: This customer loves watching Balance of Nature ads
Me: fuck balance of nature I fucking hate those stupid scammy ads!
Doubtful, since I don't have one.
Is that you Santa?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0PTXttx13E/?igshid=N2ViNmM2MDRjNw==
That’s why i don’t connect mine to the internet and I black hole suspicious traffic
My TV must be very disappointed in me