LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG servers

Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by ccozan on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @04:58AM (#6760184)

I worked for a system like this, but for Philips. Could be that the company ( cannot tell the name!) sold the solution to LG. Actually this was meant to display channel suggestions, not ads. Seems like since last time they twisted it. Quite a shame.

It was an opt out system, every TV got a unique ID, but it was anonymous - Philips didn't knew who you were. If someone watched something more than 15 mins, it was send to the DB and was profiled. After a while, the system learned your preferences - also depending on the watching hour - and started to show, per request, recommandations what to watch - which channel was the most close to your preferences. It worked like a charm.

But indeed, no personal data was collected so I don't really understand the fuss. Same for this case, LG sens anonymous data, and returns best ads for you. A little better than Google, i might say.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by incongruity on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @07:58AM (#6760817)

I'm sorry, but every detail of what I do or my family does within the privacy of our own home is personal. I do not expect my TV to be spying on me in any form.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by draugadrotten on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @08:37AM (#6761034)

>I do not expect my TV to be spying on me in any form.

The spying is done by the people working at LG. The TV is only the technical method used to spy on you and your family.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by cjrp on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @07:36AM (#6760698)

>But indeed, no personal data was collected so I don't really understand the fuss.

Filenames on USB sticks attached to the TV could quite easily include personal data. That and the lack of (working) option to disable the feature entirely.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by russellsprouts on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @04:00PM (#6764434)

It sounds like this solution was for cable shows, not every piece of media that is played.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by lucian1900 on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @08:39AM (#6761045)

Such a service (even the one you describe, not the ads) would be a breach of privacy if merely opt-out. Anything like this must be opt-in.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by kaoD on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @07:32AM (#6760674)

> LG sens anonymous data, and returns best ads for you

Thanks! I always love it when I get the best ads!

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by DanBC on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @08:34AM (#6761014)

Make it opt in, present it as an option when user sets up TV, and avoid all the negative publicity.

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by nnnnni on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @06:03AM (#6760389)

You had us until "but indeed".

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by ronaldx on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @06:26PM (#6765266)

My television preferences and the times that I am normally watching TV are personal data - and potentially sensitive.

There is some disconnection within two sentences: If it's not personal to me, how can they return the best ads for me?

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Re:LG Smart TVs log USB filenames and viewing info to LG ser... by enesex on Tuesday November 19, 2013 @05:53PM (#6765083)

priz3 found this info on the company

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