There’s growing concern about how much data your smart TV and platform operators are collecting from viewers.
- Latest research shows how some smart TVs capture screenshots or audio recordings
- Viewers need to be proactive to switch off tracking.
Internet-enabled Smart TVs send data about viewer’s viewing habits to the manufacturers’ servers, with some devices sending data every 15 seconds.
This is allowing companies to create detailed profiles of consumer habits and to operate personalised advertising, as a team from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) in collaboration with University College London and the University of California has discovered.
Transmission every 15 seconds
According to the study, the technology captures screenshots or audio recordings to identify the content displayed on the screen using so-called “Automatic Content Recognition”.
This data is regularly sent to certain servers, even if the TV is only being used as an external screen or connected to a laptop.
Samsung TVs send this information every minute, LG devices every 15 seconds.
UC3M researcher Patricia Callejo noted:
“Automatic content recognition works like a kind of visual Shazam, using screenshots or audio recordings to create a viewer profile based on usage habits. This technology enables manufacturers’ platforms to create user profiles, similar to those on the Internet. In any case, this tracking raises serious privacy concerns, regardless of the type of use.”
Stopping the data transfer
Users can stop the transmission of data. However, the function is activated by default.
Callejo adds:
“The problem is that not all users are aware of this. In addition, many do not know how to change the settings so that the devices act as tracking mechanisms for their activities by default.”
The researchers have called on manufacturers and regulators to take action to change this.
Stop tracking
For the TVs mentioned in this report, the following instructions cover most recent Samsung and LG TV models.
LG
On the latest LG TV sets, press the Settings button on the remote control.
In the menu, scroll down and go to All Settings > Support > Privacy & Terms.
Samsung
On its latest TV models, press the Home button. Then navigate as follows:
Menu > Settings > All Settings. Scroll down, select General & Privacy > Terms & Privacy.
By: Marc Thornham | Images: Collage/Stock