Summarised by Centrist
Smart TVs have turned into powerful surveillance tools, tracking and targeting users’ every move, according to a report How TV Watches Us by the Center for Digital Democracy. This data-driven system is concerning for kids, as food companies target them with ads using artificial intelligence.
The report describes smart TVs as a “privacy nightmare” that captures sensitive information about users, including their health and shopping habits. Journalist Brenda Baletti writes: “Existing privacy policies don’t explain or protect people from these new forms of data capture.”
Food and drink companies use smart TVs to target kids and teens, calling them “Generation Stream.” Companies like General Mills work with Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video to place their products in shows that kids watch. New technology even allows different viewers to see different ads in the same scene. For example, one person might see Coca-Cola on a table, while another sees green tea.
Amazon shares data with food companies to help them better target ads. Hershey, for example, uses Amazon’s data to make sure its products show up first in searches and in shows. Roku has also teamed up with Kroger to connect data from shopping and TV habits, allowing brands to see how streaming ads lead to real-life purchases.
In the US, kids, who drive a USD$28b (NZD$46b) market, are at the centre of these efforts, with companies using AI to advertise directly to them across platforms.
