How do TVs spy on us? Three makers answer 17 questions

How smart TVs collect user data is back in the spotlight after allegations that LG was spying through its televisions. According to the report, a tech writer responded by sending 17 questions about data collection practices to 11 TV and streaming device manufacturers. The companies that responded included Amazon, Apple, Google, LG, Samsung, Roku and Vizio, but some declined to answer and Hisense ignored the emails entirely.

The questions were designed to require clear yes-or-no answers, such as whether TVs store any recorded audio or transcripts based on audio captured in the home. The goal was to give users direct information without forcing them through confusing privacy policies. The article notes that some of this data collection is opt-in and can often be opted out of, but that opting out is not always as effective as it should be.

According to the report, a study by Northeastern University found that Walmart's Vizio kept sending data even after an opt-out. The company described this as routine operational data used to support the Vizio experience, not viewing data. Similarly, traffic with Samsung and Roku was found to be limited but not completely stopped.

Major companies like Amazon, Apple and Google argued that microphones only activate with a specific wake word and that users can turn these features off entirely. The article notes that devices overwhelm users with a series of consent screens during setup, but that some settings can still be reversed afterward. The piece aims to let users compare their own TV's data practices and decide how they feel about them.