Televisions in Kenya and across the globe have become a standard feature in many homes, offering access to information through the internet and streaming apps.
However, behind the convenience they provide, there are growing concerns over the privacy of consumers, particularly those who rely on select brands.
There are concerns that your television might be tracking your activities without your knowledge or permission by tracing what you watch and then sharing it with the manufacturer.
This stems from a lawsuit recently filed in the United States against some TV manufacturing companies over privacy concerns, where complainants alleged the sharing of their data without permission.
Technology Behind TV Surveillance
At the centre of this controversy is a technology known as Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). This technology works by automatically recognising what appears on the screen of your television.
This software can capture screenshots of your television display every 500 milliseconds, monitor viewing activity in real time, and transmit that information back to the company.
However, the ACR does not record full videos of what you view; the system instead captures rapid visual or audio 'fingerprints' of content playing on the screen.
According to sources privy to the information, these fingerprints are then matched against massive databases to identify exactly what you are watching and when.
The companies then allegedly sell your information to third-party advertisement firms for a targeted audience across various social media platforms.
What Data is Collected
The companies spy on your favourite programmes, movies, and channels. They also collect data on your favourite streaming services, viewing times and frequency.
The Texas Lawsuit
The concerns arose from a lawsuit filed against five major TV companies in a court in Texas, the U.S., over alleged infringement of people's privacy.
During the hearing of the petition, the prosecution labelled such conduct as invasive, deceptive, and unlawful, demanding harsher penalties for the companies found guilty of harvesting personal data without permission.
"The fundamental right to privacy will be protected in Texas because owning a television does not mean surrendering your personal information," said the prosecution.
"This technology puts users’ privacy and sensitive information, such as passwords, bank information, and other personal information, at risk," he added.
While the ruling on the petition is yet to be issued, if found guilty, the companies could be forced to remove all the tracking devices from the smart televisions.
