More Evidence that Smart TVs are a Marketers Dream

TV company fines for collecting data and selling it on

[engine]

A U.S. TV maker has been fined $2.2 million for allegations that it collected data from users' TVs and sold the data on.

I've always been concerned about smart TVs harvesting data without permission. Here's an example where the company thought it was ok to do, until it was caught out. How many others are out there doing the same thing!

The US Federal Trade Commission said the company’s smart TV technology had captured data on what was being viewed on screen and transmitted it to the firm’s servers. link [bbc.co.uk]

It added: "This settlement stops Vizio’s unauthorised tracking, and makes clear that smart TV makers should get people’s consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information.”

[Dimitri]

$2.2 millions fine for 11 millions TV collecting data during 3 years, this is not very severe and I sure the manufacturer made much more money during this period from it, than the amount of the fine.

I see the EU cookie consent thing coming to Smart TV soon :-)

[engine]

I see the EU cookie consent thing coming to Smart TV soon :-)

nooooooooooooo!

I agree, it doesn't see much, but I assume the authorities took that into account based on the earnings involved.

But, really, there needs to be more user knowledge and acceptance. My guess is most people probably don't see the notification and simply press accept.

[Dimitri]

Thanks to smart devices, Marketers will know everything about us,

smart tv, smart cars, smart fridges, smart beds, smart toilets, etc...

[graeme_p]

People will just consent. Most people do not read or understand the warnings, and they are been conditioned to click OK.

The other thing with hardware is you can do what MS do with the windows EULA - either you agree, or you have to go back to where you bought it and return it because you do you agree with the EULA.

[londrum]

it won't be long before TV adverts get tailored to each individual viewer.
imagine all the money in that

[graeme_p]

If they are as well tailored as Google ads are, not much.

I am in Sri Lanka, moving back to the UK in a few months. I have been looking for houses and cars there (so I can plan budget). The result is that Google shows me ads for houses and cars in Sri Lanka.

The ads are badly targeted in other ways too.

I do not see this on my desktop as I block third part cookies, but I keep seeing the same ads on my phone, so a lot of impressions are getting wasted.

[tangor]

What's left out (but can be found at the mgfr's website) is their partnership with Google and Google Home and voice activated etc.

This is not only a light slap on the wrist, it also ignores the wider meaning of "smart tv", "speakers", and more.