We live in the age of hyperconnection, where the comfort of a smart home seduces us with appliances that learn from our habits. But at what price? Few of us are aware of the degree of surveillance to which we submit ourselves when we incorporate these devices into our lives.
Today I am going to discuss the case of Smart TVs, those bright screens that offer us a universe of entertainment from the comfort of our sofa. And the truth is that, while we enjoy our favorite series, our television could be watching us more than we think.
A recent study, carried out by three universities in Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, and presented at the Internet Measurement Conference (IMC 2024) in Madrid last November, has uncovered a disturbing reality: Smart TVs constantly monitor what we see, collecting detailed information about our tastes and preferences. Data that, in theory, should be private, but ends up in the hands of manufacturers.
How do they do it? Through a technology called Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). This system identifies and records everything that is played on the screen, even when we use the television as an external monitor for a computer. Research has shown that Samsung, for example, collects this information once per second, while LG does it every 15 seconds. Imagine the amount of data they accumulate on our consumption habits.
The official excuse for this massive collection of data is usually the "personalization of the user experience", offering us content recommendations supposedly tailored to our tastes. However, the line between personalization and manipulation is very thin, and the lack of transparency about the actual use of this data generates deep mistrust. Are they used to target advertising? Are they sold to third parties? Do they influence the production of future content? The answers, unfortunately, are not clear.
The most worrying thing is that this silent surveillance occurs, in most cases, without the informed consent of the user. While it is true that Smart TVs offer the possibility of disabling ACR, this option, known as "Opt-out", is often hidden in the tangle of device settings.
And by default, TVs come configured to collect information from the moment we turn them on for the first time. How many users take the trouble to dive into the settings menus to disable a function they are not even aware of? Probably very few.
The responsibility for this situation does not fall solely on the manufacturers. Our authorities, charged with protecting citizens' privacy, should take a stronger stand against these practices. Stricter regulations are needed to limit indiscriminate data collection and, above all, to promote transparency and user control.
It is not enough to offer an "Opt-out" option hidden in the settings; it is essential that users are informed clearly and concisely about what data is collected, how it is used and who has access to it.
In addition, it is crucial to promote awareness campaigns that educate the population on the importance of protecting their digital privacy. We must learn to navigate this new technological landscape with our eyes wide open, demanding from companies and authorities the respect we deserve as consumers and citizens.
Convenience should not be synonymous with surveillance. We have the right to enjoy technology without giving up our privacy. It is time to take control of our screens and decide what information we share and with whom. Let's deactivate the "all-seeing eye" of our Smart TVs and recover the privacy of our homes.
The next time you sit in front of the television, remember: you decide what to watch, not the television. Investigate how to deactivate the ACR option on your specific model and share this information with family and friends. Privacy is a right, not a privilege. Let's defend it.
And think that what is not defended ends up being lost.
A video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/eWSsLjClMGY
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