Campaigns Can Now See What You Watch on TV.
Campaigns Can Now See What You Watch on TV.
Smart TVs that track what people watch and how they watch it give political campaigns a new trove of data to exploit, with little transparency on how it’s happening.
Televisions that can stream platforms like Hulu or Max usually come loaded with technology that collects information on what viewers are watching, and buyers consent to have their viewing tracked when they open their new TV and click through terms of service agreements. Sometimes, data firms can connect those viewing habits to a voter’s phone or laptop via their IP address, promising a trove of information about an individual and the ability to track them across screens.
Other times, firms focus on dividing households into groups based on what they’re watching, how they use their TVs and how many campaign ads they’re seeing, which is a boon to political campaigns eager to target specific groups of voters. Connecting this data to voter files is increasingly a focus — a move that adds individual voting habits into the mix.
The more and more of stuff like this I see, the kore I just wan't to buy the cheapest possible mini pc, make it tv remote controllable and just put it to open jellyfin directly that's connected to my home media server.
And then hook it up to the most dumb tv I can fijd with decent picture quality.
I wish there were more high quality dumb TVs. Most of the dumb TVs I can find today are both very expensive and lack the features I’m looking for like HDR and 120hz+ frame rates.
I know the argument is that the privacy invasions are subsidizing the cost of the TV but I have yet to see non-anecdotal evidence of that and suspect that the price of the TV would be the same either way because the market will only support so much expense.
I grabbed a display TV and haven’t hooked it up to the internet, so far so good. Could look into that.
I use computer monitors for TVs. Mostly because they're smaller and I don't have that much space for stuff. Most have all those features but don't have a smart interface. I plug them in over HDMI and make sure CEC is enabled so I can turn it on and off with a dumb remote the RasPi. Works pretty well actually.
I'm biased but I think everyone should do this. You can basically find the hardware you'd need out of a dumpster, and then you can slowly build your library from there.
I second this. And the transition was made easy due to anti-consumer practices. Plus, you can take your media on-the-go for free
The best and possibly only dumb TV brand is Spectre.
https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.html?sort=tbt.parent_pdtype&order=DESC
Source: framework CEO https://community.frame.work/t/in-defense-of-dumb-tvs/160
Disclaimer: have not tried them.
*Sceptre, not spectre.
(I misspell it almost every time, too.)
When my parents got a new TV, I made sure they bought a Sceptre. So far it's working fine.
As others have said, just buy a TV that meets your A/V needs and don't connect it to the internet.
I know everyone talks about Jellyfin these days, but Kodi is an excellent option too if you don't need streaming to multiple devices. I use Kodi via LibreElec on an rpi4 and it's been great. All media is stored on my home server and shared over Samba, but you can easily store it locally on the box if you don't have a server.
For music streaming, I run a separate instance of miniDLNA on my server, since I like to browse-by-directory for my music instead of relying solely on metadata. This also allows you to stream to any DLNA-friendly device on the LAN.
I've digitized my disc collection and just keep the physical media as a backup. The local library has a huge selection of media too...and if we don't use it, we'll lose it.
I have my own Emby server and I would love to have a dumb TV instead of my current one. Problem is its 4K screen has absolutely SPOILED me and I don't wanna go back. And I've heard it's difficult to find a 4K dumb TV.
Also, and most importantly, I'm the kind of person who uses something until it won't work anymore. The way I see it is "My TV is currently 6 years old and yet still working fine so why would I buy another when I don't need one." (Why generate unnecessary waste?) So, I'm waiting until it dies to get another.
That's what I've done. It's the way to go. Got a TV from the panel manufacturer that's so basic you can see light shining through the back when it's on lol
I've tried to do this a few times, and unfortunately it feels like you really have to go all in on managing your own content library.
Like many, I had stopped pirating shit when netflix etc were "good".
None of the streaming services want you to use them outside of their official sites/apps, so you end up being limited to like 720p when running them through kodi etc.
I never touched streaming services, mostly cause they came to my country 2years ago and were already shit they are now, plus cost me too much to even afford one.
So I just have torrenting setup automated with arr software. ( Don't even need a vpn because my country has no copyright laws so free to torrent whatever I wan't )
That's what I did a couple months ago and I regret not doing it sooner. I got a Beelink SER and loaded it with Endeavour OS, a web browser, torrent client, and VLC.
that's basically what i had. a cheap laptop for a 'streaming device' and media player with a k400 keyboard with trackpad. connected to a monitor to start, then a cheap tv. don't have a 'media server' though, just a pile of hard drives (externals, or internals with usb adapter or 'dock').
the tv eventually did get hooked up to wifi but i only use it for a couple 'free' apps that require no signin and work through pihole ok. mostly the 'tv' is playing a random playlist.
Don't even need to mini pc, we use one of the silverstone amp-sized cases with an asrock
Also we don't jellyfin we just use vlc on a win7 base. Means i can run retroarch and UT on the tv as well :)
Eye M8tey! 🏴☠️🦜🦜🏴☠️
If ye hold yer privacy dearer than a chest full of doubloons, then steer o'er to yer own private island, uncharted on any map o' the seas, to enjoy yer piles o' loot without fear o' some scallywag chartin' yer course!
AARGH!
It’s times like this I like my own server full of Linux ISO’s to keep me busy.
For a long time I have disconnected my TV from WiFi, I watch the news in the morning and watch movies on the official website of public TV or on Pluto TV on the computer or via Bluetooth on TV for free and without ads. It has been clear to me for a long time that the prefix "smart...." on electronic devices is synonymous with "spy....".
I Chromecast content from my computer and phone.
If I don't watch/stream stuff otherwise, and my TV isn't connected to anything else I'm aware of, is my data being exfiltrated? It's a Sony from ~2015
It's more expensive; but look for Digital Signage.
