Apps and Software By Russell Holly Nov. 19, 2013 12:14 pm
We’re all familiar with technology companies using our device and web usage to try and better target ads to consumers. One of the big questions floating around the world right now is about where that particular line gets drawn. At what point is it reasonable to say that too much information is being shared? LG may have unfortunately discovered that line, and what’s worse is they seem to have no intention of curbing their behavior despite customer complaints.
Imagine you’ve got a shiny new Smart TV, and everything you do on it is recorded and sent back to the manufacturer. It’s not an uncommon thing to have happen, but usually the information is separated from the user and there’s some degree of opt-out for the volume of data that is collected and what it is used for.
LG’s Smart TVs do in fact have a big friendly button that invites you to turn off data collection, but a quick evaluation of network traffic after the fact will show you that the button you just pressed didn’t actually accomplish anything.
One user in particular has done some research to find out exactly what is recorded, and the results are more than a little unnerving. When you land on a particular channel or app, LG grabs that information and sends it home with a timestamp and a unique device ID. If you’re watching something from a removable storage device, the TV will grab the filename and send that home as well. This information is stored and transmitted in an unencrypted fashion, with seemingly no limit on how many times in a given day the TV will phone home.
More curious than LG’s seemingly intentional deception with the software button to turn off data collection was the response given when confronted about this abuse. In a letter sent to the individual who uncovered all of this, LG explained that he had accepted the Terms of Service so there was nothing wrong with what happened here. If he had a problem with this LG invited the user to reach out to his retailer, presumably to attempt a return.
It’s safe to say LG crossed the line here. Even if their Terms of Service allow for this kind of data collection, offering the ability to turn off data collection and then refusing to actually stop collecting data is a terrible way to treat your customers.
Now read: Watch the LG G Flex’s self-healing plastic repair itself after a serious scratching
More...
Imagine you’ve got a shiny new Smart TV, and everything you do on it is recorded and sent back to the manufacturer. It’s not an uncommon thing to have happen, but usually the information is separated from the user and there’s some degree of opt-out for the volume of data that is collected and what it is used for.
LG’s Smart TVs do in fact have a big friendly button that invites you to turn off data collection, but a quick evaluation of network traffic after the fact will show you that the button you just pressed didn’t actually accomplish anything.
One user in particular has done some research to find out exactly what is recorded, and the results are more than a little unnerving. When you land on a particular channel or app, LG grabs that information and sends it home with a timestamp and a unique device ID. If you’re watching something from a removable storage device, the TV will grab the filename and send that home as well. This information is stored and transmitted in an unencrypted fashion, with seemingly no limit on how many times in a given day the TV will phone home.
More curious than LG’s seemingly intentional deception with the software button to turn off data collection was the response given when confronted about this abuse. In a letter sent to the individual who uncovered all of this, LG explained that he had accepted the Terms of Service so there was nothing wrong with what happened here. If he had a problem with this LG invited the user to reach out to his retailer, presumably to attempt a return.
It’s safe to say LG crossed the line here. Even if their Terms of Service allow for this kind of data collection, offering the ability to turn off data collection and then refusing to actually stop collecting data is a terrible way to treat your customers.
Now read: Watch the LG G Flex’s self-healing plastic repair itself after a serious scratching
More...
