Televisions that can stream platforms like Hulu or Max usually come loaded with technology that collects information on what viewers are watching, and buyers consent to have their viewing tracked when they open their new TV and click through terms of service agreements. Sometimes, data firms can connect those viewing habits to a voter’s phone or laptop via their IP address, promising a trove of information about an individual and the ability to track them across screens.
Other times, firms focus on dividing households into groups based on what they’re watching, how they use their TVs and how many campaign ads they’re seeing, which is a boon to political campaigns eager to target specific groups of voters. Connecting this data to voter files is increasingly a focus — a move that adds individual voting habits into the mix.
Eye M8tey! 🏴☠️🦜🦜🏴☠️
If ye hold yer privacy dearer than a chest full of doubloons, then steer o’er to yer own private island, uncharted on any map o’ the seas, to enjoy yer piles o’ loot without fear o’ some scallywag chartin’ yer course!
They keep giving us more reasons to sail the high seas.
AARGH!
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For a long time I have disconnected my TV from WiFi, I watch the news in the morning and watch movies on the official website of public TV or on Pluto TV on the computer or via Bluetooth on TV for free and without ads. It has been clear to me for a long time that the prefix “smart…” on electronic devices is synonymous with “spy…”.
I Chromecast content from my computer and phone.
If I don’t watch/stream stuff otherwise, and my TV isn’t connected to anything else I’m aware of, is my data being exfiltrated? It’s a Sony from ~2015
Probably safe to assume that the streaming app on your phone is collecting the same data about your viewing habits, whether or not you Chromecast it to another device.
Sure, the apps are recording all of that, my question is around my TV
Some TVs have tech called ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) that literally reads pixels on the screen for identifying information about what content is being displayed. If your TV has ACR enabled, it’s possible it’s tracking what you watch, even if you’re viewing it through a device like Chromecast.
If your TV doesn’t have ACR or the TV itself isn’t connected to the Internet, then you’re probably fine.