11 Household Items That Could Be Spying on You

Many smart TVs are equipped with built-in cameras and microphones for features like voice control and video calling. These components can capture video and audio in your living room or bedroom. Some models also track viewing habits, collecting data on what you watch and when. Additionally, certain smart TVs have been found to analyze content playing on the screen, even from external devices, to serve targeted advertisements.

We wrote a guide on the various ways your TV is spying on you. A major privacy risk is Automatic Content Recognition (ACR).

Past Incidents Report

In 2015, Samsung faced criticism when it was revealed that their smart TV privacy policy warned users that spoken words, including personal information, could be captured and transmitted to third parties through the voice recognition feature.

In 2017, Vizio settled a lawsuit for $2.2 million after it was revealed their smart TVs were collecting and selling viewing data without proper disclosure to consumers.

Privacy Impact Rating : High

Potential for visual and audio recording in living spaces, plus tracking of viewing habits.

Usage Statistics

As of 2024, about 80% of US households owned a smart TV, while in the UK this number sits at 74%.