In recent weeks, Samsung released the smart TV. I believe it’s the first of it’s kind. Off the bat, this smart TV is having not so smart problems.
It wasn’t long before it was discovered the Samsung Smart TV can spy on us. These TVs can pick up everything we say and everything we watch. They watch every move we make in our living room, or even scarier, our bedroom, if your smart TV is in the bedroom. Don’t take my word for it: Samsung even has the warning in small print! They’re even marketing this Smart TV to children, and yes, their voices and movements can be tracked as well. Even US federal agencies are concerned. Privacy groups are filing complaints to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), claiming this TV violates many privacy acts, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. A privacy advocacy group asked the FTC to investigate Samsung altogether, and stop them from collecting unapproved data for a third party. The South Korean technology conglomerate defends it’s TV. They claim the TV can collect voice data only when the user commands the TV, but not before clicking the activation button, then speak through the remote microphone.
Ever since the 1950s, American families, friends, and tavern partrons have gathered around to watch television. Never could I ever imagine a time when the TV would be watching me. When I was a kid, I thought this kind of technology would exist in a fictional sci-fi section, or in George Orwell’s 1984. But here we are. No TV should be watching and recording our every move. And they definitely have no right to record what our children are saying. Thank goodness privacy rights advocates are speaking out and getting the ear of our government and elected officials. But we have to keep the pressure up. We must tell them this kind of violation is uncalled for. And here’s what will get Samsung’s attention: When not a single American buys this monstrosity of a TV. Can you hear us now, Samsung?