Privacy guide

What data does your smart TV collect about you?

How smart TVs in India track what you watch through ACR and apps, what is shared with advertisers, and how to turn the tracking down.

The simple answer

Smart TVs can track far more than you expect. Many use a feature that recognises what is on screen, across apps and even external devices, to build a viewing profile for advertising.

This viewing data can be shared with advertisers and partners. The good news is that most TVs let you turn down this tracking in the settings, if you know where to look.

What to check

1
Look for viewing-data or ACR settings on your TV.

If this is unclear, treat it as a signal to ask the company for a plain-English explanation.

2
Turn off interest-based ads in TV settings.

If this is unclear, treat it as a signal to ask the company for a plain-English explanation.

3
Review permissions for TV apps.

If this is unclear, treat it as a signal to ask the company for a plain-English explanation.

4
Check the TV maker's privacy policy.

If this is unclear, treat it as a signal to ask the company for a plain-English explanation.

From our investigation

Your TV can watch you back.

State of Privacy looks beyond the browser because tracking now reaches living rooms. A smart TV can build a viewing profile much like a website builds a browsing one.

What to do next

1
Open TV settings and limit viewing-data collection.

Keep it practical: take one action, save proof, and avoid giving more data than the task needs.

2
Turn off interest-based advertising.

Keep it practical: take one action, save proof, and avoid giving more data than the task needs.

3
Review and remove unused TV apps.

Keep it practical: take one action, save proof, and avoid giving more data than the task needs.

People also ask

Do smart TVs really track what I watch?

Many use on-screen recognition to build a viewing profile for advertising, across apps and inputs.

Can I stop it?

Most TVs let you turn off viewing-data collection and interest-based ads in settings.

Where is this data going?

It can be shared with advertisers and partners, so check the TV maker policy and settings.

If you are a company
Check your own website.

How many trackers run on your pages? Does your privacy policy name them? Can you answer a data-rights email? If you don't know, we can help you find out.

Talk to Meridian Bridge Strategy →
Your right under Indian law
Mera data mera hai.

Your personal data belongs to you. Under DPDP, every company must tell you what they have and delete it if you ask. One email is all it takes.

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Read the full investigation.

We investigated 107 Indian company websites. The public report shows what we found.

Read the reportTry the experience