Samsung is warning customers about discussing personal information in front of their smart television set.
The warning applies to TV viewers who control their Samsung Smart TV using its voice activation feature.
When the feature is active, such TV sets "listen" to what is said and may share what they hear with Samsung or third parties, it said.
Privacy campaigners said the technology smacked of the telescreens, in George Orwell's 1984, which spied on citizens.
Data sharing
The warning came to light via a story in online news magazine the Daily Beast which published an excerpt of a section of Samsung's privacy policy for its net-connected Smart TV sets. These record what is said when a button on a remote control is pressed.
Smart TV owner Peter Kent: "It makes me think twice"
The policy explains that the TV set will be listening to people in the same room to try to spot when commands or queries are issued via the remote. It goes on to say: "If your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party."
Corynne McSherry, an intellectual property lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) which campaigns on digital rights issues, told the Daily Beast that the third party was probably the company providing speech-to-text conversion for Samsung.
She added: "If I were the customer, I might like to know who that third party was, and I'd definitely like to know whether my words were being transmitted in a secure form."
Soon after, an activist for the EFF circulated the policy statement on Twitter comparing it to George Orwell's description of the telescreens in his novel 1984 that listen to what people say in their homes.
Privacy experts wondered if the grabbed audio was protected as it was sent for analysis
In response to the widespread sharing of its policy statement, Samsung has issued a statement to clarify how voice activation works. It emphasised that the voice recognition feature is activated using the TV's remote control.
It said the privacy policy was an attempt to be transparent with owners in order to help them make informed choices about whether to use some features on its Smart TV sets, adding that it took consumer privacy "very seriously".
Samsung said: "If a consumer consents and uses the voice recognition feature, voice data is provided to a third party during a requested voice command search. At that time, the voice data is sent to a server, which searches for the requested content then returns the desired content to the TV."
It added that it did not retain voice data or sell the audio being captured. Smart-TV owners would always know if voice activation was turned on because a microphone icon would be visible on the screen, it said.
The third party handling the translation from speech to text is a firm called Nuance, which specialises in voice recognition, Samsung has confirmed to the BBC.
Samsung is not the first maker of a smart, net-connected TV to run into problems with the data the set collects. In late 2013, a UK IT consultant found his LG TV was gathering information about his viewing habits.
Publicity about the issue led LG to create a software update which ensured data collection was turned off for those who did not want to share information.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I just used the app to turn my phone into a remote for my T.V. Now I am thinking I want to turn that off.
I use my phone to access my bank accounts. It has other information on there I don't really want others having.
Big Brother is every where now.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I don't think anything interesting enough goes on in my home to warrant people listening in via my television . . . they likely have more important things to do . . .
If you are having a conversation about dinner, it becomes information for advertisements.
Just like how when you search something on your computer or click on a thread too many times. You get ads.
And if you are talking about your taxes or your insurance or anything that is normal and boring, it can record that and a third party get it.
What other conversations are going on in your house?
With all the hacking going on, what is to keep people from turning on these features without your knowledge?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Its surprising how much data companies want. I bought some wireless Philips Hue light bulbs. The user agreement said the would collect data including whether my light bulbs were on or off.
Apps for the phone seem to be worse. I a flashlight app wanted access to my location and phone contacts.
With a few key strokes our whole lives can be in a strangers hands.
From where we are to what we eat to how we sleep.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
The ability to monitor our homes, unlock our house and car doors. Security systems and houses are remote controlled.
Basically, a stranger can have complete and total access to every single aspect of our lives. And we even pay them for it.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Flan, how much do you like others, you don't know, in your life? How much free rein do you give strangers?
Is it really ok to you that so many people have access to your private and personal property and moments?
Are you really ok with giving away so much of your basic privacies?
I mean we go ape poop over some HIPPA violation but then we say nothing about strangers having complete and total access to every part of our life.
Surely you are not ok with that.
I know you like to be smug and have a cute little sarcastic comment to everything, but if anyone else posted this thread, you would have a completely different attitude about it.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Unfortunately Lily it is the price we pay for automation. I worry about identity theft but I love paying my bills & shopping online so that is the trade off.
All the hacking going on. We get all upset about it.
But then we invite it in.
Yes. It is the price of progress.
But I don't think we should make it so easy either.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I love my smart TVs. I hate the Xbox that wants to change the channel or fast forward movies with any movement by my hand. It also listens and waits for commands. Hate it! My life is pretty boring so I will continue to use all the conveniences if I like them enough.
All the hacking going on. We get all upset about it.
But then we invite it in.
Yes. It is the price of progress.
But I don't think we should make it so easy either.
And what exactly happens if you get your info stolen? Do you know? I do. I had my credit card info stolen and theu charged up about $10,000 worth of stuff. One phone call to the bank and it was taken care of. I had to sign a statement that said I didn't charge those things (which they could see that I didn't as it was used in different parts of the world on the same day) and my account was back to normal. Honestly, it isn't that big of a deal. It isn't like you are on the hook for those charges. You aren't even on the hook for charges you DO make, if you dispute it with the bank. As long as your signature doesn't match the one on file, you can dispute any charge and not pay.
The TV in the OP doesn't listen to you until you give it the commands it is listening for. So unless you say "change the channel" it is in sleep mode. Your family time is safe.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
When will something said in private, become a law suit. Or a criminal investigation?
How much are we willing to give away?
I thought it was very interesting. Something to discuss.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
All the hacking going on. We get all upset about it.
But then we invite it in.
Yes. It is the price of progress.
But I don't think we should make it so easy either.
And what exactly happens if you get your info stolen? Do you know? I do. I had my credit card info stolen and theu charged up about $10,000 worth of stuff. One phone call to the bank and it was taken care of. I had to sign a statement that said I didn't charge those things (which they could see that I didn't as it was used in different parts of the world on the same day) and my account was back to normal. Honestly, it isn't that big of a deal. It isn't like you are on the hook for those charges. You aren't even on the hook for charges you DO make, if you dispute it with the bank. As long as your signature doesn't match the one on file, you can dispute any charge and not pay.
The TV in the OP doesn't listen to you until you give it the commands it is listening for. So unless you say "change the channel" it is in sleep mode. Your family time is safe.
Their is a difference to me of having a credit card info stolen/used and identity theft. I had a friend whose SSN was stolen. After months of fighting and getting a new SSN the thief called her up and recited the new number to her. Depends on the effort of the thief.
I would get a firewall. That way you block the incoming connections as well as control the outgoing connections. You can let the TV connect to Netflix but not Samsung/Sony.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
And every time you use that "discount" card at the grocery store it collects data.
Mine used to be Richard Cranium at 8675 309
That is hilarious.
I use to call my drafting teacher that. He would just shake his head and laugh and tell me to get to work.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
MM, it wasn't that long ago a man lost his job because of a something he said in what he thought was private.
Now what he said wasn't right. I am not going to defend what he said. That is not the point of what I am trying to say.
But let's say a person is in their living room and they are heard saying something in confidence to another BUT that T.V. just happens to be recording at that moment and the right, or wrong, third party gets it and while translating it decides they need to report it.
Yes. Far fetched isn't it?
Or is it.
Think about it.
All I am saying is we all like our privacy. But then when it is compromised by convenience, we shrug and say "oh well".
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
All the hacking going on. We get all upset about it.
But then we invite it in.
Yes. It is the price of progress.
But I don't think we should make it so easy either.
And what exactly happens if you get your info stolen? Do you know? I do. I had my credit card info stolen and theu charged up about $10,000 worth of stuff. One phone call to the bank and it was taken care of. I had to sign a statement that said I didn't charge those things (which they could see that I didn't as it was used in different parts of the world on the same day) and my account was back to normal. Honestly, it isn't that big of a deal. It isn't like you are on the hook for those charges. You aren't even on the hook for charges you DO make, if you dispute it with the bank. As long as your signature doesn't match the one on file, you can dispute any charge and not pay.
The TV in the OP doesn't listen to you until you give it the commands it is listening for. So unless you say "change the channel" it is in sleep mode. Your family time is safe.
Their is a difference to me of having a credit card info stolen/used and identity theft. I had a friend whose SSN was stolen. After months of fighting and getting a new SSN the thief called her up and recited the new number to her. Depends on the effort of the thief.
Debit cards are a totally different story. A coworker had her debit card stolen. Took months to resolve. Her bank account was closed and her direct deposits were seized. Its not as simple as some would make it out to be.
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
I get the concern. I don't want anyone hearing my conversations with Roscoe. I'd be committed post haste.
In all seriousness we should be aware of the cost of convenience and our loss of privacy. In my mind, we're already on camera at least 50% (my own estimate, nothing to back this up) of the time due to living in a city with cameras at damn near every intersection and business . Our society has forced this due to crime. Data mining though isn't about safety, it's about profit and that bothers me a bit.
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I'm the Ginger Rogers of spelling...that means I'm smat.
Lesson learned in February: I don't have to keep up, I just have to keep moving!
All the hacking going on. We get all upset about it.
But then we invite it in.
Yes. It is the price of progress.
But I don't think we should make it so easy either.
And what exactly happens if you get your info stolen? Do you know? I do. I had my credit card info stolen and theu charged up about $10,000 worth of stuff. One phone call to the bank and it was taken care of. I had to sign a statement that said I didn't charge those things (which they could see that I didn't as it was used in different parts of the world on the same day) and my account was back to normal. Honestly, it isn't that big of a deal. It isn't like you are on the hook for those charges. You aren't even on the hook for charges you DO make, if you dispute it with the bank. As long as your signature doesn't match the one on file, you can dispute any charge and not pay.
The TV in the OP doesn't listen to you until you give it the commands it is listening for. So unless you say "change the channel" it is in sleep mode. Your family time is safe.
Their is a difference to me of having a credit card info stolen/used and identity theft. I had a friend whose SSN was stolen. After months of fighting and getting a new SSN the thief called her up and recited the new number to her. Depends on the effort of the thief.
Debit cards are a totally different story. A coworker had her debit card stolen. Took months to resolve. Her bank account was closed and her direct deposits were seized. Its not as simple as some would make it out to be.
It depends on the bank. DH had a similar issue with a debit card ($3000 in fraud) and it was resolved within 48 hours. Each bank must have different rules. Our bank was actually amazing about it - didn't question a thing, froze all activity on the account, fed ex'd us a new card.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
I get the concern. I don't want anyone hearing my conversations with Roscoe. I'd be committed post haste.
In all seriousness we should be aware of the cost of convenience and our loss of privacy. In my mind, we're already on camera at least 50% (my own estimate, nothing to back this up) of the time due to living in a city with cameras at damn near every intersection and business . Our society has forced this due to crime. Data mining though isn't about safety, it's about profit and that bothers me a bit.
I so glad you were able to put into words what I was trying to say.
I understand the need for progress.
But I wonder what we are losing.
And the reason behind it.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
All the hacking going on. We get all upset about it.
But then we invite it in.
Yes. It is the price of progress.
But I don't think we should make it so easy either.
And what exactly happens if you get your info stolen? Do you know? I do. I had my credit card info stolen and theu charged up about $10,000 worth of stuff. One phone call to the bank and it was taken care of. I had to sign a statement that said I didn't charge those things (which they could see that I didn't as it was used in different parts of the world on the same day) and my account was back to normal. Honestly, it isn't that big of a deal. It isn't like you are on the hook for those charges. You aren't even on the hook for charges you DO make, if you dispute it with the bank. As long as your signature doesn't match the one on file, you can dispute any charge and not pay.
The TV in the OP doesn't listen to you until you give it the commands it is listening for. So unless you say "change the channel" it is in sleep mode. Your family time is safe.
Their is a difference to me of having a credit card info stolen/used and identity theft. I had a friend whose SSN was stolen. After months of fighting and getting a new SSN the thief called her up and recited the new number to her. Depends on the effort of the thief.
Debit cards are a totally different story. A coworker had her debit card stolen. Took months to resolve. Her bank account was closed and her direct deposits were seized. Its not as simple as some would make it out to be.
It depends on the bank. DH had a similar issue with a debit card ($3000 in fraud) and it was resolved within 48 hours. Each bank must have different rules. Our bank was actually amazing about it - didn't question a thing, froze all activity on the account, fed ex'd us a new card.
We had debit card information stolen not to long ago. The bank noticed the charge right after it happened and called to see if I had authorized it. When I told them no, they immediately flagged the account, in case someone tried to use it. I had my money back and a new card within 2 days. Inconvenient, yes, but about as painfree as having your card info stolen can be. I couldn't imagine it taking months to resolve. That would be awful.
As for the Smart TVs, Apps, whatever. These are choices, not requirements. By choosing, you run the risk of loosing a piece of your privacy. Don't want the risk? Don't use the voice controls on the Smart TV, or don't buy one at all. Don't download apps that want access to info you don't want to give. It is that simple. If you invite in these things that are known to invade your privacy, you shouldn't be surprised when they do just that.
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"I have a very strict gun control policy. If there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." - Clint Eastwood
You do realize that each of these devices can be activated by a stranger in another location WITHOUT you knowing it?
Do you play games on your phone? Did you see the little thing about needing your information when accepting the TOA? So while you are crushing candy, a data house has collected your search history.
Big brother is sneaky.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
All the apps show you what information they want before you download them. By downloading the game, you agree to share it. No one is forced to download a game. No one is forced to buy a Smart TV either. Failing to read the terms before agreeing doesn't mean someone else is being sneaky.
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"I have a very strict gun control policy. If there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." - Clint Eastwood
The ability to turn on these features without your permission is very real.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
And how exactly would they turn them on if you didn't have them to begin with? Because by having them, you are agreeing to their terms. You have invited the invasion of privacy in. No one is forcing people to download these apps. No one is forcing them to buy a Smart TV. What exactly am I missing?
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"I have a very strict gun control policy. If there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." - Clint Eastwood
Do you have a phone? Does it have Internet access? Or just a phone without it?
They can be turned on by someone other than you. A school got in some serious trouble because it was turning on its web cams on laptops the students had checked out. It can and is done.
Yes. You can just not have a phone or laptop or this particular t.v. But that is not the point. The point is, the ability to listen in and record private conversations in our homes is not only here but being used.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
And how exactly would they turn them on if you didn't have them to begin with? Because by having them, you are agreeing to their terms. You have invited the invasion of privacy in. No one is forcing people to download these apps. No one is forcing them to buy a Smart TV. What exactly am I missing?
A friend from church is a counselor and was sued by a client. The client's husband filed for divorce and cited several things that the client had ONLY told the counselor. Come to find out, client's husband had put an app on her phone that would let him listen in at will. She now has a no cell phone policy.
and have you never heard of a virus? Yeah, cell phones can get them too. So you may download something and a virus can infect it. So you DON'T actually know what's on your phone at any given time. You would be naïve to think otherwise.
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...