Smart TVs track viewing through ACR — The Verge
Most modern smart TVs use automatic content recognition (ACR) systems that can determine exactly what a user is watching in built-in apps or through the TV’s ports. Such systems analyze fragments of audio or video, turn them into digital fingerprints, and compare them with databases, The Verge reports.
The collected data can be used for recommendations, personalized advertising, and audience measurement across different platforms. The publication notes that TV manufacturers track what device owners watch, when they watch it, and how they watch it, collect this information, and share it with partners. Users give consent to such data collection during the initial TV setup.
Consent during setup
According to The Verge, terms of use and privacy policies can be complex and lengthy, while interface design may encourage users to agree to optional terms. A Gamers Nexus video about LG TVs showed six agreements, one of which concerned ACR. The cursor was set by default to the “select all” option, although users needed to agree to only two terms to continue the setup.
ACR features may have different names across brands, including Enhanced Viewing, Smart TV Experience, or Samba Interactive TV. The article’s author advises agreeing only to necessary terms during setup, checking advertising and data-tracking settings, and using a separate email address to sign in to the TV’s operating system and apps.
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Testing LG TVs
Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs said they used vulnerabilities to gain control over an LG TV. During testing, according to them, after the microphone was activated for voice search, the device continued recording sound for another 10–15 seconds after the last detected speech. The researchers also enabled the optional “hi LG” voice activation, increased the microphone’s sensitivity and operating range, after which it could pick up speech from a greater distance.
The Verge emphasizes that recording video from a connected webcam and audio while the TV appeared to be turned off became possible in the tests after obtaining root access. According to Level1Techs, the exploit used for this required network access. The publication also notes that some assumptions in the video are not supported by the evidence presented, but the collection of viewing data is a widespread practice in the smart TV industry.
To limit data transmission, the author advises disabling Wi-Fi and unplugging the Ethernet cable, using the TV as a display with an external streaming device. At the same time, streaming services and separate media set-top boxes may also track user activity in their own apps.
