My conclusion is simple: Government intervention is now required.
I hate to take that path. I just don't see anything at all limiting what TV manufacturers are doing. They are completely out of control.
The way I put it is that you buy a TV and they deliver a data-gathering, privacy-abusing digital advertising device into your family room, bedroom, etc.
The level of surveillance and abuse on consumers is truly unbelievable. And nobody is even talking about putting a stop to it. HN often focuses on solutions to such problems that only techies would generally be able to or consider implementing. The vast majority of consumers are unsuspecting victims. They don't really understand that the home page is a bunch cost-per-click ads and that every single action they take is being logged and sold. Most people just don't know.
And this is why legislation is required, not a techie solution or work-around. This needs to stop.
So...I did something about it. I wrote to my congressional representative, explaining the problem and asking for action. The response, a few weeks later, was a form letter thanking me for contacting the office. So much for taxation with representation.