Your Smart TV Has One Big Problem: It's Tracking What You Watch
LG or Samsung really doesn't need to know what you've been watching lately.
Pawel Kacperek/Getty Images
Smart TVs are everywhere, but they hide a big problem in plain sight. Not only do they push constant ads in your direction, but they also monitor what you watch to help advertisers personalize ads — not just on the TV, but everywhere else too.
What is Automatic Content Recognition?
Like most smart devices, smart TVs gather extensive data on your viewing habits using Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). They do this by capturing screenshots every few seconds (or even multiple times per second), which they use to identify what you watch on built-in apps and streaming services, as well as connected devices like gaming consoles and streaming boxes. Just like Shazam, ACR only needs a snippet to identify what's being shown.
Beyond content, TVs capture valuable technical data, such as your IP address, Wi-Fi...
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