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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs your TV watching you? Latest models raise concerns
Samsungs 2012 top-of-the-line plasmas and LED HDTVs offer new features never before available within a television including a built-in, internally wired HD camera, twin microphones, face tracking and speech recognition. While these features give you unprecedented control over an HDTV, the devices themselves, more similar than ever to a personal computer, may allow hackers or even Samsung to see and hear you and your family, and collect extremely personal data.
While Web cameras and Internet connectivity are not new to HDTVs, their complete integration is, and it's the always connected camera and microphones, combined with the option of third-party apps (not to mention Samsung's own software) gives us cause for concern regarding the privacy of TV buyers and their friends and families.
Samsung has not released a privacy policy clarifying what data it is collecting and sharing with regard to the new TV sets. And while there is no current evidence of any particular security hole or untoward behavior by Samsung's app partners, Samsung has only stated that it "assumes no responsibility, and shall not be liable" in the event that a product or service is not "appropriate."
Samsung demoed these features to the press earlier this month. The camera and microphones are built into the top if the screen bezel in the 2012 8000-series plasmas and are permanently attached to the top of the 7500- and 8000ES-series LED TVs. A Samsung representative showed how, once set up and connected to the Internet, these models will automatically talk to the Samsung cloud and enable viewers to use new and exciting apps.
http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/your-tv-watching-you-latest-models-raise-concerns-483619
"In Soviet Union,television watches you." - Yakov Smirnoff
rfranklin
(13,200 posts)That's pretty exciting!
provis99
(13,062 posts)rfranklin
(13,200 posts)Instant shrivel!
Thinking that same thing
Richardo
(38,391 posts)Problem solved!
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)do the same as well.
Heywood J
(2,515 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And big brother. I love my ancient tv for that reason alone. It gives fits to the cable techs, but so be it.
IDemo
(16,926 posts)CRT (no flat-screen), no cable or dish, and we have to walk uphill both ways through three feet of snow to change the channel!
Initech
(100,038 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)I see no reason to get a tv with a built in camera pointing out for any reason. This shit is starting to get surreal.
pokerfan
(27,677 posts)And from Wired Magazine, CIA Chief: Well Spy on You Through Your Dishwasher: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/03/petraeus-tv-remote/
LiberalFighter
(50,783 posts)Might be an idea to see if there is a device that will alert you if you are being monitored via the tv.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)LiberalFighter
(50,783 posts)raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)montanto
(2,966 posts)Matariki
(18,775 posts)it has a camera on each side that I'm always vaguely paranoid about. It didn't help that one of their commercials showed a 'happy user' from the perspective of the device - as if they were being filmed 24/7.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)"Now you can be an exhibitionist in the privacy of your own home!"
"Exhibitionism has never been EASIER! Samsung!"
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)in the first damn place?