Rui Carmo
Good luck with that. My next TV might still be an LG (just because I usually like their hardware and price points), but like the current one, it will be blocked at my router from accessing the Internet (HomeKit still works, of course, and I use my Apple TV and NVIDIA SHIELD for media).
But this is something the EU should really look into and regulate. The amount of data TV manufacturers are collecting and brokering seems to have fallen off their radar, which is just plain stupid considering all the privacy and GDPR implications.
And it’s a bold move on LG’s part, considering most folks just want to see their family photos or some calming art while they’re not actively binge-watching. Even if you can turn it off, the default setting is a bit of a slap in the face for anyone who thought they’d bought a premium product free from such annoyances.
This shift towards monetizing every idle moment on your TV is a slippery slope. It’s not just about selling hardware anymore; it’s about squeezing every last cent from customers, and brokering the data to get more revenue. And while LG claims this will boost brand awareness, one has to wonder if viewers will just tune out entirely (or worse, switch to a platform that respects their downtime). As the lines blur between content and advertising, it feels like we’re all just one step closer to a world where even our screen savers are working overtime.