Your Smart TV is spying on you, and most people don't know. But YOU will!

Nearly every modern Smart TV has ACR technology. You’ve probably never heard of it. (Most people haven’t. Stick with me…) It’s there. On almost every Smart TV. And it’s tracking everything on your screen.

Not just Netflix. Not just YouTube. EVERYTHING.

→ Playing PlayStation? Tracked. → Watching cable TV? Tracked. → Using Chromecast or Fire Stick? Tracked. → Private security camera footage? Tracked.

If it appears on your screen, your TV is watching it, recording it, and sending that data somewhere else.

What is ACR?

ACR stands for Automatic Content Recognition. Every few milliseconds, your TV takes pixel samples of whatever’s on screen. It analyzes those samples, identifies what you’re watching, and sends that information to advertisers and data brokers.

This happens constantly. If you’re streaming a movie, playing a game, or checking your security cameras through your TV. It captures everything.

Here’s what makes this disturbing: ACR doesn’t just work with your TV’s smart apps. It monitors every single input. That means your Blu-ray player, your gaming console, your laptop connected via HDMI, even your cable box. If the image hits your TV screen, ACR logs it.

You never agreed to this, right?

Wrong. You did. During setup, when you clicked “I Agree” without reading the privacy policy. That’s when you gave permission for your TV to become a surveillance device in your living room.

Most people have no idea they did this. The setup process uses vague language like “Enable viewing data to improve recommendations” without explaining that you’re agreeing to constant monitoring of everything that appears on your screen.

The Data They’re Collecting Right Now

Your Smart TV is building a detailed profile of you. Here’s what it’s collecting:

→ Everything you watch (shows, movies, apps, games)
→ How long you watch it
→ Every device connected via HDMI
→ Your viewing patterns and habits
→ Data to build your advertising profile

This data gets sold to advertisers who use it to target you across all your devices. Ever notice how you watch something on TV and suddenly see ads for it on your phone? That’s not coincidence. That’s your TV telling advertisers what you watched.

Some manufacturers are more transparent than others, but the fundamental business model is the same: your viewing habits are valuable, and they’re selling that information to whoever will pay for it.

It Gets Worse: Cameras and Microphones

Some Smart TVs have built-in cameras and microphones. They sold you these features for video calling and voice commands. But here’s what they don’t tell you about the privacy risks.

Some high-end models even track your facial expressions to feed your ad profile. Shocking, isn’t it?

The technology can tell when you look away from the screen, when you’re paying attention, even how you react emotionally to what you’re watching. All of this gets added to your advertising profile.

And hackers? They can remotely activate these cameras and microphones using some tools. Even when your TV appears to be “off.”

Security researchers have found multiple ways hackers can access Smart TV cameras and microphones remotely. Some TVs can be hacked to record audio and video while they look like they’re powered down. Security people call this “fake-off” mode.

Their Business Model: Your Privacy for Sale

In 2017, Vizio was fined $2.2 million by the FTC for secretly collecting viewing data from 11 million Smart TVs and selling it to third parties without proper disclosure. But here’s the thing: that fine didn’t stop the practice. It just made companies more transparent about doing it.

Most Smart TV manufacturers openly admit in their privacy policies that they share your data with third parties. Samsung even has a disclaimer stating they’re “not responsible for third-party privacy practices.”

Translation: We’re selling your data. Not our problem what they do with it.

This creates a whole chain of data selling. Your viewing habits start with your TV manufacturer, get sold to a data broker, then sold again to advertisers, analytics companies, and whoever else wants to pay for it.

The TV manufacturers figured something out: they can sell TVs cheaper if they make money from your data. That’s why Smart TVs often cost less than “dumb” TVs with the same screen quality. You’re not getting a deal. You’re paying with your privacy instead of cash.

I ran Wireshark on a friend’s Smart TV once. The amount of tracking domains it contacted was insane. Over 40 requests per minute. Just sitting idle.

This is one of the reasons I don’t have a TV or Smart TV.

How to Stop It

Think your TV is just for entertainment? Think again. But you don’t have to accept this surveillance.

Here’s how to disable ACR tracking on major brands:

→ Samsung: Settings > Support > Terms & Policies > Viewing Information Services (turn OFF)

→ LG: Settings > General > Live Plus (turn OFF)

→ Vizio: System > Reset & Admin > Viewing Data (turn OFF)

→ Roku: Settings > Privacy > Smart TV Experience > Use Info from TV Inputs (turn OFF)

→ Sony: Settings > Initial Setup > Samba Interactive TV (turn OFF)

The exact menu paths might vary slightly depending on your model year, but look for terms like “Viewing Information Services,” “Smart Interactivity,” or “Viewing Data” in your TV’s privacy or terms sections.

Also disable your camera and microphone in privacy settings if your TV has them. Some Samsung TVs require physically toggling a switch on the TV itself to activate the microphone before you can access voice settings.

Or just put tape over the camera lens. Low tech, but effective.

Keep in mind that even after disabling ACR, your TV may still collect some data for “essential functions.” Read your manufacturer’s privacy policy to understand what data collection continues even when you opt out.

What This Means for You

Most people have no idea this is happening in their living room right now.

But you do.

You now understand that your Smart TV is not just a screen. It’s a data collection device that happens to show video. The “smart” features you bought it for? They come with a surveillance system you probably didn’t know you agreed to.

Knowing what’s actually happening with the tech in your home. Your TV manufacturer, their partners, and hackers all have ways to access information about what happens in your living room.

You can change this. Disable ACR tracking. Turn off cameras and microphones you’re not using. Read privacy policies before clicking “I Agree.” Use your TV as a display and run your streaming through devices you control.

Your TV works for you. Make sure it stays that way.

Want to learn more about how these systems work and how to protect yourself?

Check out my complete ethical hacking course covering reconnaissance, exploitation, and network security:

→ Join my complete ethical hacking course

(The link supports me directly as your instructor!)

Your Smart TV knows more than you imagined!