Samsung,s 2012 top-of-the-line plasmas and LED HDTVs offer new Features including internally Build Camera,twin microphones,face tracking and speech recognition.While these features give unexpected control over an HDTV,the devices themselves,more similar than to a personal computer,may allow Hackers or others can hear and see you and your family and possible to collect extremely personal datas.
While cameras and internet connectivity are not new to HDTV's,their complete integration is,and it's always connected the camera and microphones,combined with the option of third party apps(not to mention samsung's own software)gives us cause for concern regarding the privacy of TV buyers and their friends and families.
Samsung has not released a privacy policy clarifying what data is collecting and sharing with regards to the new TV sets.And while there is no current evidence of any particular security hole or untoward
behavior by Samsung's apps partners,Samsung has only stated that it "assumes no responsibility,and shall not be liable" in the event that a product or service is not "appropriate".
Samsung demoted these features to the press earlier this month.The camera and microphones are built in the top if the screen bezel in the 2012 8000-series plasmas and are permanently attached to the top of the 7500-and 8000ES-series LED TVs.There is a removable USB cable which connects the Cameras,microphone as add on accecories but we cant Unplug these sensors
These Samsung TVs locate and make note of registered viewers via sophisticated Face recognition Softwares.This means if you tell the TV whose faces belong to which users in your family.it personalizes the experience to the each Recognized family member.if you have friends over,it could log these faces as well.
In addition,the TV listens and responds to specific voice commands.To use the feature,the micro phone is active.What concern is us the integration of both an active camera and microphone.A Samsung representative tells us you can deactivate the voice feature;how ever this is done by software,and not a hard switch you use to Turn on/off the room light.
During our Demo,unless the face recognition learning features are activated,the was no indication (like red light) to indicate the sensor is on.
Samsung does provide the ability to manually reposition the TVs camera away from viewers.The LED TV models allow you to manually point it upward,facing the ceiling;the plasma's camera can be re-aimed to capture objects in the rear of the TV according a Samsung spokesperson.
While cameras and internet connectivity are not new to HDTV's,their complete integration is,and it's always connected the camera and microphones,combined with the option of third party apps(not to mention samsung's own software)gives us cause for concern regarding the privacy of TV buyers and their friends and families.
Samsung has not released a privacy policy clarifying what data is collecting and sharing with regards to the new TV sets.And while there is no current evidence of any particular security hole or untoward
behavior by Samsung's apps partners,Samsung has only stated that it "assumes no responsibility,and shall not be liable" in the event that a product or service is not "appropriate".
Samsung demoted these features to the press earlier this month.The camera and microphones are built in the top if the screen bezel in the 2012 8000-series plasmas and are permanently attached to the top of the 7500-and 8000ES-series LED TVs.There is a removable USB cable which connects the Cameras,microphone as add on accecories but we cant Unplug these sensors
These Samsung TVs locate and make note of registered viewers via sophisticated Face recognition Softwares.This means if you tell the TV whose faces belong to which users in your family.it personalizes the experience to the each Recognized family member.if you have friends over,it could log these faces as well.
In addition,the TV listens and responds to specific voice commands.To use the feature,the micro phone is active.What concern is us the integration of both an active camera and microphone.A Samsung representative tells us you can deactivate the voice feature;how ever this is done by software,and not a hard switch you use to Turn on/off the room light.
During our Demo,unless the face recognition learning features are activated,the was no indication (like red light) to indicate the sensor is on.
Samsung does provide the ability to manually reposition the TVs camera away from viewers.The LED TV models allow you to manually point it upward,facing the ceiling;the plasma's camera can be re-aimed to capture objects in the rear of the TV according a Samsung spokesperson.
PRIVACY CONCERNS
We began to wonder exactly what data Samsung collects from it's new "eyes and ears" and how it and other companies intend use it,which raises the following questions:
- Can Samsung or Samsung-authorized companies watch you watching your Samsung TV?
- Do the television send a user ID or the TV's Serial number to the Samsung cloud when ever it has an internet connection?
- Does Samsung Cross reference a user ID ar facial scan to your Warranty registration Information,such as Name,Address etc?
- Can a person or company listen to you,at will,via Microphone and Internet Connection?
- Does Samsung's Cloud store all this Information?
- Can a hacker intercept this Data or View you via the built in Camera?Is Fully Secure For Personal Data?
- Can the third party app can do any of the above?
- Does Samsung intend to sell data collected by Smart TV owners,such as who,what and when one is viewing?
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