Smart Home & AI
Stop Your Smart TV From Spying
Your smart TV quietly records what is on screen and sells that viewing data to advertisers. Turning it off takes two minutes per TV, and everything still works.
What Your TV Is Watching
Most smart TVs use Automatic Content Recognition (ACR): software that screenshots whatever is on screen every few seconds, identifies it, and sends it back to the manufacturer to sell to advertisers. Vizio was fined $2.2 million by the FTC for doing this without consent.
Turn Off ACR by Brand
Samsung
Viewing Information ServicesSettings → Support → Terms & Privacy → Viewing Information Services → off.
LG
LivePlusSettings → All Settings → General → LivePlus → off (also turn off Advertisement under Additional Settings).
Vizio
Viewing DataMenu → System → Reset & Admin → Viewing Data → off.
Roku
Smart TV ExperienceSettings → Privacy → Smart TV Experience → uncheck Use info from TV inputs.
Lock Down the Rest
- Reset or limit the advertising ID under the TV's privacy or ad settings.
- Turn off the microphone or voice features if you do not use the voice remote.
- Avoid signing into apps you do not need, each login is another profile.
Block It at the Network
Even with ACR off, TVs phone home constantly. Network-level DNS filtering blocks the tracking and ad domains for the TV and every other device at once, see our smart home network tips.
Common Questions
Will my TV still work after turning off ACR?
Yes. ACR only powers viewing-data collection. Streaming, apps, and picture quality are unaffected.
Why does my TV track what I watch?
To build an advertising profile and sell viewing data. It is a revenue stream for the manufacturer, not a feature for you.
Should I just use a streaming stick instead?
A dumb TV plus a streaming device gives you more control, but the streaming device has its own ad ID to reset. Either way, block telemetry at the network.
WANT THIS DONE FOR YOU?
Harbor Privacy blocks tracking and ad domains at the DNS level for every device on your home network, automatically. Get started here.