3mo ago

Smart TVs are like “a digital Trojan Horse” in people’s homes | 48-page report urges FTC, FCC to investigate connected TV industry data harvesting.

arstechnica.com CTV industry’s unprecedented “surveillance”

48-page report citing Ars Technica urges FTC, FCC investigate connected TV data harvesting. Gen AI, potentially racially discrimniatory practices head concerns.

Television @lemmy.world

Smart TVs are like “a digital Trojan Horse” in people’s homes

arstechnica.com /gadgets/2024/10/streaming-industry-has-unprecedented-surveillance-manipulation-capabilities/

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Privacy @lemmy.world

Smart TVs are like “a digital Trojan Horse” in people’s homes

arstechnica.com /gadgets/2024/10/streaming-industry-has-unprecedented-surveillance-manipulation-capabilities/

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News @lemmy.world

Smart TVs are like “a digital Trojan Horse” in people’s homes

arstechnica.com /gadgets/2024/10/streaming-industry-has-unprecedented-surveillance-manipulation-capabilities/

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226 comments

I’m more than happy to buy a TV that uses post-purchase monetization, because I am never going to connect that fucker to the internet. It’s a display. I shall use it as a display. I do not care that it can replace my streaming box. I fully control my streaming box, and I will use that.
If I catch it doing any sketchy shit like trying to use unsecured/Comcast/etc WiFi to phone home, it’ll be time to pull out the screwdriver, though.
- What happens when it no longer needs your WiFi and uses something like LoRa to phone home with your data and location? It may not know who you are exactly but it'll have a good guess.
  
  What happens when it no longer needs your WiFi and uses something like LoRa to phone home with your data and location? It may not know who you are exactly but it’ll have a good guess.
  I mean....what happens when it becomes sentient, sprouts legs and you catch it sleeping with your spouse?
  Let's deal with the here and now.
  
  You know LoRa hardware is getting cheaper and the reliability of these TVs are just terrible. This is likely to happen sooner rather than later. For now just don't plug it in to WiFi unless you're willing to go further and desolder its module? I don't think we can do much via legislation other than write to our congressional reps.
  
  you catch it sleeping with your spouse?
  Streaming content right there - monetize it!
  
  Screwdriver.
  
  on whom?
  
  The entire board
  
  What's Lora?
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa (Long Range)
  It's a low power, large range connection technology, working a bit like a mesh network. It can achieve data rates between 0.3 kbit/s and 27 kbit/s and enables geolocation services. According to the LoRa Development Portal, the range provided by LoRa can be up to 3 miles (4.8 km) in urban areas, and up to 10 miles (16 km) or more in rural areas (line of sight).
  As soon as your LoRa-Device is in range of another LoRa-Device, it will probably be able to phone home.
  
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa
  Long-range radio protocol

226 comments