48-page report urges FTC, FCC to investigate connected TV industry data harvesting.
The companies behind the streaming industry, including smart TV and streaming stick manufacturers and streaming service providers, have developed a "surveillance system" that has "long undermined privacy and consumer protection," according to a report from the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) published today and sent to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Unprecedented tracking techniques aimed at pleasing advertisers have resulted in connected TVs (CTVs) being a "privacy nightmare," according to Jeffrey Chester, report co-author and CDD executive director, resulting in calls for stronger regulation.
The 48-page report, How TV Watches Us: Commercial Surveillance in the Streaming Era [PDF], cites Ars Technica, other news publications, trade publications, blog posts, and statements from big players in streaming—from Amazon to NBCUniversal and Tubi, to LG, Samsung, and Vizio. It provides a detailed overview of the various ways that streaming services and streaming hardware target viewers in newfound ways that the CDD argues pose severe privacy risks. The nonprofit composed the report as part of efforts to encourage regulation. Today, the CDD sent letters to the FTC [PDF], Federal Communications Commission (FCC), California attorney general [PDF], and California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) [PDF], regarding its concerns.
"Not only does CTV operate in ways that are unfair to consumers, it is also putting them and their families at risk as it gathers and uses sensitive data about health, children, race, and political interests,” Chester said in a statement.
I have to say I have a smart TV in my home, however, I did not dare to connect it to my WiFi or internet. I have a hearty dislike for the “data-gatherers” whom I like to call spies. I haven’t quite figured out how to stop my “smart”phone from spying on me, but when I do I will put a halt to that spy, too. I never take my smartphone with me when I move about, if I can help it because of the geofencing and geotracking features (they are not bugs).
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120 sats \ 0 replies \ @000w2 7 Oct
GrapheneOS and a Faraday bag.
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11 sats \ 0 replies \ @gmd 8 Oct
hmmm never really thought about it tbh. I use appletv so no sense plugging in my tv as well…
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11 sats \ 0 replies \ @Garth 8 Oct
I run PLEX with Apple TV clients, never touch STV, particularly useful to manage what the kids watch, so they don’t go down some twisted YouTube rabbit hole
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I went out of my way to get a "dumb" TV that just takes the signal from my computer to play what I tell it to, and that's it. Glorified large monitor.
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11 sats \ 1 reply \ @OT 7 Oct
I wish we did something similar.
Are they easy to find?
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not really, alll the TVs in stores are now smart. It's easier in computer stores, looking for a big monitor instead of a (formal) TV. I got mine used, which is still more possible than encountering one in a store...
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Same. And no gaming consoles needed.
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Not my TV because I play everything without login. It's possible here.
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I don't think I will be able to give up my smart tvs. They are so damn convenient, and going back to a non-smart tv is like going back to a flip phone.
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