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What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

ftc.gov

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Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#101

Post by cwilkes »

Smerity wrote: post #11
abandonliberty wrote: post #8

This is promising and is a good start towards IOT precedent, and perhaps even operating systems of our devices (Windows 10). - Explain your data collection practices up front. - Get consumers’ consent before you collect and share highly specific information about their entertainment preferences. - Make it easy for consumers to exercise options. - Established consumer protection principles apply to new technology. I w…

To note, they were also forced to delete the collected data, though the insights they've already extracted / profits from data they've already sold may offset both the point and the $2.2 million fine.

Vizio might be able to delete the data but there is not much of a chance that the data brokers they sold to can. Probably already baked into their models.

Plus how is this verifiable? The fine should be a lot higher to discourage this action.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#102

Post by khedoros1 »

bduerst wrote: post #46
wrsh07 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you want a high end tv you don't have much choice. But also, why do you not expect your Roku / apple tv / etc to be watching you?

You can still find OLED or 4K off-brand "dumb" TVs, like from Hisense and Selki, but you run the risk of terrible support.

Don't those often use B-grade panels from other manufacturers? I know Hisense has the reputation for punching above its weight, but I wouldn't expect them to produce "high end" TVs.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#103

Post by FullMtlAlcoholc »

jasonwilk wrote: post #21

It's not worth buying any of these 'Smart' TVs. I don't know whether it is a shoddy developer experience provided by the likes of Samsung / Vizeo etc or if it's the developers themselves (Hulu I'm looking at you) who do not maintain their apps which are constantly bug filled. I much prefer my old dumb TV that has a Roku plugged into it. Oh yeah, and I know it's not WATCHING ME.

I don't understand the consumer infatuation with "smart", Internet connected devices, especially smart homes. Yes auto lighting and hvac systems are cool, but it introduces so many security vulnerabities that it's not worth it.

I dont ever see myself using autonomous, internet connected cars. I cant think of a bigger hacking target for terrorists and mischief makers alike.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#104

Post by whalesalad »

On a similar note, can anyone here speak to the hidden audio signal that is broadcast over the air with things like sporting events?

I noticed it once when Google Now knew instantaneously that I was watching a specific NFL football game and began displaying the score. It felt magical but after a little research there are hidden frequencies that reveal this information.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#105

Post by rhizome »

pdimitar wrote: post #71
bduerst wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can still find OLED or 4K off-brand "dumb" TVs, like from Hisense and Selki, but you run the risk of terrible support.

PERSONAL OPINION: warranties are hard to enforce de facto . Would you be so kind to provide links to these products? I am interested in a high-quality display without smart features.

Yeah, I tried to go down that route about 10 years ago when the Internet was younger and dumber and I wound up not being able to find anything. Here's a recent (UK) story about the idea that could provide some vectors, though:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2016/sep/08/c...

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#106

Post by andrewflnr »

pdimitar wrote: post #67
mikeryan wrote: post #33

So I have a bit of intimate knowledge of this. Not sure what I can answer but for years my company worked on an Automatic Content Recognition project using tools from a team called Cognitive Networks who were bought by Vizio and makes up the tech that did this. If I understand correctly the founder of Vizio kept this tech for himself in the sale of Vizio. When developing this we would work directly with Cognitive che…

What proof do you have for what you're claiming, please? If you have intimate knowledge then you should know that many (me included) could accuse you of trying to push an agenda or divert the attention by posting what you did. How do you really know LG stopped their data collection? Sure they might have made a checkbox be switched off by default, but what does that say about the underlying software? IMO, nothing. It…

What proof could they actually provide? Given the medium, anything they said is probably easily forgeable or illegal to share. That being the case, demanding proof is just a way for you to look "skeptical" without providing much of value to the conversation. I'm guessing you meant well, but apparently others thought differently.

We all know people lie on the internet sometimes. We can't explicitly bring up the possibility everytime someone makes any statement, or half the internet would be "careful, this might not be true!".

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#107

Post by badloginagain »

Archio wrote: post #64
mikeryan wrote: post #33

So I have a bit of intimate knowledge of this. Not sure what I can answer but for years my company worked on an Automatic Content Recognition project using tools from a team called Cognitive Networks who were bought by Vizio and makes up the tech that did this. If I understand correctly the founder of Vizio kept this tech for himself in the sale of Vizio. When developing this we would work directly with Cognitive che…

I'm curious, did anyone on your team raise any ethical concerns in regards to the potential privacy violation? If not, how was the topic handled by employees/management?

I'd expect it wasn't handled. If it comes up, 'Let legal deal with it'.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#108

Post by khedoros1 »

Relys wrote: post #84
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can nag you about retrieving updates.

root it then! Any kid that knows how to point the libstagefright and DirtyCOW MetaSploit modules at the browser can root their "smart" TV...

Better option: Buy a different TV that requires less effort to make acceptable, unless there's a huge price incentive to buy the more troublesome TV and "fix" it.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#109

Post by pdimitar »

FullMtlAlcoholc wrote: post #99
pdimitar wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What proof do you have for what you're claiming, please? If you have intimate knowledge then you should know that many (me included) could accuse you of trying to push an agenda or divert the attention by posting what you did. How do you really know LG stopped their data collection? Sure they might have made a checkbox be switched off by default, but what does that say about the underlying software? IMO, nothing. It…

Quick tip: If you actually care about being downvoted, dont complain about being downvoted. Many people will do so just for mentioning it, it is against the rules, and it's whining about imaginary, non-transferrable internet points

Corrected. Foreign thinking to me -- but point is taken. Thank you.

Re: What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen

#110

Post by billh »

KSS42 wrote: post #68
thenayr wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah not much of a punishment to discourage further abuse. Should have fined them on a ratio of the number of data points they collected (100 billion). Even a 100:1 seems like a reasonable punishment for this scale of abuse ($1 billion)

There probably will be a class action lawsuit.

Which will be settled with a coupon for $12.00 off the purchase of your next Vizio Smart TV.
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