Smart TVs are increasingly being used as nodes in the AI scraping economy, collecting user data to train machine learning models. A new report from Include Security reveals that many popular smart TV models now include hidden software that captures viewing habits, voice commands, and even background audio. This data is sold to third-party AI companies without explicit user consent. The practice has grown rapidly as the demand for training data has skyrocketed, turning every connected TV into a potential surveillance device.
This is the inevitable evolution of tech. Your TV isn't just a screen anymore—it's a sensor. A node in a vast network feeding the AI that will power our future. Yes, it's unsettling. But consider what we gain. Better recommendations. Smarter assistants. Personalized experiences that actually work. The data economy is messy, but it's also the engine of progress.
We can't stop this. We can only shape it. Demand transparency. Opt-in models. Fair compensation for your data. The future is scraping. Let's make sure it scrapes for everyone, not just the few.