The disturbing truth about your Smart TV

Smart TVs may also be quietly collecting data, tracking viewing habits, and even capturing screenshots, raising privacy concerns similar to those associated with social media platforms like Instagram.

Smart TVs—those internet-connected gadgets that have become a staple in most homes—make binge-watching easier than ever. But in a world that’s starting to feel like a scene straight out of 1984, where Big Brother seems to lurk everywhere, it’s not just social media sites like Instagram that are keeping tabs on us. You know how Instagram eerily serves up ads or posts that match your likes, searches, or even casual conversations? Well, here’s the kicker: your beloved Smart TV might be doing something similar. Yes, your Smart TV isn’t just serving up your favourite shows. It could be quietly collecting your data, tracking your viewing habits, and—brace yourself—even capturing screenshots of what’s on your screen. It can even tailor ads to you—even if you’re just using it as an external screen or connecting it to your laptop. Yep, that’s right! This sneaky little trick is a secret most people haven’t picked up on yet.

Smart TVs use audio recordings and screenshots to track screen habits

These are the main findings from an investigation carried out by the University Carlos III in Madrid in collaboration with University College London in England and the University of California in Davis, US. It unveiled the fact that Smart TV technology can perform screen shots or use audio perception to identify what information is being shown on your TV screen – a system known as ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) before inconspicuously sending this information to servers.

Callejo is sounding the alarm on a new sneaky practice that’s raising some serious privacy red flags. Turns out, even when your TV is just a giant screen for your laptop, it might be quietly sending your info back to the servers. And it’s happening fast—Samsung was caught sending data every minute, while LG’s got some serious speed, sending info every 15 seconds! Big Brother must be taking notes, because this is one fast surveillance game!

‘Big Brother’ configurations on Smart TVs mean automatic tracking

Sadly, as this is unknown territory to most, the majority of those with a Smart TV glorifying the wall of their living rooms will not be aware that these configurations come pre-set. This means that unless you deactivate the transmission of such data back to platforms which control advertising, you will be destined to a TV life span of being watched by your own goggle box. Callejo outlined: “The problem is that not all users are aware of this fact and many others don’t know how to change the configuration.”

The investigation is shedding light on just how closely we’re being tracked and followed in our daily lives. With gadgets now seamlessly connected to a cloud and communicating with each other in what’s known as the Internet of Things (IoT), big questions about our privacy are surfacing. As more devices talk to each other, manufacturers and regulators are being pushed to make these risks clear, so we can all be aware of what’s lurking around the corner.

Are we already living in 1984, or is that future creeping up faster than we thought?

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