← Back to context

Comment by alt227

25 days ago

Right but if you are streaming then you are happy to give all your personal info and viewing habit data to Netflix, Disney, Amazon etc to build ad profiles on you, as well as Apple who own the hardware and are feeding telemetry data into your ad profile on their system.

But for some reason Sony or Samsung doing the same on your TV is too far?

18 comments

alt227

Reply
throw0101c  25 days ago

> But for some reason Sony or Samsung doing the same on your TV is too far?

The content streamers get your viewing habits by virtue of you viewing their content (like Youtube, or any web site, getting information on what you're looking at by simply logging HTTP GET requests).

There is no reason why television OEMs need to do screen captures and send them to the mothership.

It's the first- and second-party interaction: you gave money to Sony/Samsung/etc for a product, and after the exchange there is no reason for any further interaction.

You have a regular/monthly interaction with content providers: there is at least a valid reason for the content providers to have that information in the first place, and none for the TV OEMs to collect it.

  • alt227  25 days ago

    You can reason it all you want, but regardless of the product type the fact remains you are happy to give your data to one billion dollar company but not another.

    That is absolutely fine, but IMO it is hypocritical. That is all I am arguing.

    • throw0101c  25 days ago

      > That is absolutely fine, but IMO it is hypocritical. That is all I am arguing.

      I am okay "giving my data" to the billion dollar company of (say) Netflix of Disney+ because I need to be able to log into the service and get the video streams. It is a necessary part of getting the service to provide (e.g.) billing information like a credit card.

      I am not okay with giving my data to the billion dollar company of Sony or Samsung because having a display take in HDMI bits and produce photons on a screen does not necessitate any phone home functionality.

      I am not okay with Netflix or Disney+ giving data to third parties because doing so is not necessary to provide the service.

    • Nevermark  25 days ago

      I don't want random people listening in on me, but I don't mind the person I choose to speak to listening to me.

      Does that qualify as hypocrisy too?

      You can argue against dealing with any billion dollar company. But drop the hypocrisy framing, it is nonsensical and your point will be stronger without it.

      2 replies →

    • ragall  25 days ago

      > but IMO it is hypocritical

      Your opinion is wrong. There's no hypocrisy, and it was explained to you why some companies have done better than others.

afavour  25 days ago

> as well as Apple who own the hardware and are feeding telemetry data into your ad profile on their system.

Are they, though? Is Apple snooping into the Netflix app’s data to track what you’re watching and phone home with that info? Are there studies showing that happening? Are they selling that data to third parties like the TV manufacturers are?