Your smart television is so smart–it may be watching YOU — even when you’re watching something else.
A new class-action lawsuit filed in California federal court accuses Samsung of secretly tracking what millions of Americans watch on their smart TVs — and using that information to make money from advertising.
The lawsuit claims Samsung uses technology called Automatic Content Recognition to identify what’s appearing on your screen — whether you’re watching cable, streaming a movie or playing a video game.
The plaintiffs say Samsung collects that information without properly informing viewers or obtaining their consent. They also claim Samsung makes money by using consumers’ viewing habits to support its advertising business.
Samsung maintains the technology is optional, can be turned off, and does not record the content displayed on its televisions.
The lawsuit seeks damages and an order stopping the alleged privacy violations. The allegations have not been proven in court.
We found this YouTube video that claims to teach you how to turn off the ACR. No guarantees, but worth a look:
So if you own a Samsung smart TV, or really any smart TV, you might want to check your privacy settings.
