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Samsung Says Their TVs Aren't Really Spying On You

Posted by timothy on from the jeesh-you-guys-are-so-paranoid dept.

lightbox32 writes "Samsung has finally responded to an article recently published by HD Guru titled 'Is your TV watching you?' [See this related Slashdot post] which discussed the fact that new features in Samsung's top 2012 models — including built-in microphones, HDTV camera, wireless and wired Internet connection, built-in browser with voice to text conversion, face recognition and more — could be used to collect unprecedented personal information and invade our privacy. Samsung has now provided their privacy policy, which may or may not lay the issue to rest." I vote for "not" — conspiracy theories about mandatory (or just secret) surveillance equipment in consumer electronics is just too persistent, even when the technical capabilities turn out to be a hoax; when the equipment is actually all in place and the user is protected only by a corporate honor policy, it's hard to be sanguine. (I recall there was a much rumored secret capability for law enforcement agencies to secretly and remotely turn on the internal microphones in PCs meeting the PC 97 spec, and this was an integral part of the plan. Since the government insists that telecom equipment have built-in backdoors, why should that sound all that crazy?)

9 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Paranoid? by ottawanker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, if you're so paranoid, get some tape and cover over the camera and microphone, or take it apart and disconnect it.

    But, maybe even light bulbs have cameras and microphones in them now, using the powerlines to transmit the data back..

    1. Re:Paranoid? by anglico · · Score: 5, Informative
      FTFA

      "Should the TV owner choose not to use these features, the camera and microphone can be disabled. Users can check if the camera and microphone are activated from the TV’s settings menu. As an added precaution, the camera can be rotated and tucked into the bezel of the TV. Once tucked away, the camera only captures a black image."

    2. Re:Paranoid? by epyT-R · · Score: 5, Insightful

      what about the mic? if the switch is software it can be remotely accessed. the switches need to be physical.

    3. Re:Paranoid? by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Perhaps because of 1984, but perhaps because that TV has become a major part of people's reality and has so far only been one way.

      Or because TVs are more likely to be found in bedrooms and other places where people would very much not want to be seen by others. Unlike laptops (which can be closed and/or moved), those TVs are always pointed so that you can see them from the bed. This means that if it has a camera, it can watch you have sex, it can watch you watch porn (which, Slashdot readers notwithstanding, is more likely on a TV than a computer), and (if the angle is wide enough) it can watch you get dressed in the morning.

      A TV in a common room with a camera is potentially acceptable, but making it a standard feature of every TV would be a catastrophically bad idea. There are some places that cameras just do not belong. Like my bathroom.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  2. Marketing Opportunity - Privacy Star Compliance by ohnocitizen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Trust in corporate ethics is so incredibly low. Privacy expectations plummet every year. If I was a hardware manufcaturer, I'd fund an independent organization (like Consumer Reports) and say "use this money to investigate which new devices coming out violate consumer privacy, and issue ratings". If we can have Energy Star compliance, why not Privacy Star compliance? If all my tvs had Privacy Star stickers, and my competitors did not, +1 for me and my business.

  3. In Soviet Russia television is watching YOU! by sourcerror · · Score: 5, Funny

    In Soviet Russia television is watching YOU!

  4. Of course... by Terrasque · · Score: 5, Funny

    Samsung Says Their TVs Aren't Really Spying On You

    Of course they'll be saying that. They'd be crazy NOT to say it.

    I mean, they have enough patent lawsuits from Apple already.

    --
    It's The Golden Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules."
  5. Such an incredible opportunity... by Genda · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For someone to create a personal firewall that prevents unwanted access to your appliances and unwanted data transmission from your appliances. It should be reasonably easy to build such a device, sell it for a reasonable price and let everyone know that they now have complete control over what their appliance does and when. I'd buy one in a minute!

    The only way to prevent oher people from taking inappropriate advantage is to eliminate the opportunity.

  6. Here I am... by Jawnn · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...brain the size of a planet and they ask me to spy on you through this crappy little camera in my bezel. Call that job satisfaction, 'cause I don't.