the same item year after year: an upgrade of the good old TV.
Bigger screen, better resolution, and of course, smart features.
But is a Smart TV actually a smart idea?
In this post, I’d like to explain why Smart TVs are not such a smart idea from a data security and privacy perspective, and why you should be aware of this—whether you’re planning to buy one or already own a Smart TV.
What Actually Makes a Smart TV “smart”?
At its core, a Smart TV is basically just a monitor with a software layer installed on top of it. Compared to a regular monitor you might buy for your home office setup, the hardware inside a TV is often very similar.
Here’s the interesting part:
A TV with comparable hardware specs usually costs significantly less than a “normal” monitor or panel that you’d use only as a display for your laptop, PC, or streaming device. (nice read on this topic:
https://www.slashgear.com/1844291/why-tvs-cheaper-than-monitors-explained)
So, why is this the case?
The Real Price: You Pay With Your Data
The answer is simple: you pay the discount with your data.
Many Smart TVs actively collect data about what you watch. This can include audio snippets and content fingerprints, which are then used to create detailed viewer profiles. These profiles are extremely valuable and are often sold to advertising companies for targeted advertising, for example on platforms like YouTube.
A deeper look into what Smart TVs actually collect can be found here:
https://www.howtogeek.com/its-not-just-streaming-content-your-smart-tv-collects-data-on-everything
This data collection is one of the main reasons why Smart TVs are cheaper than comparable hardware without smart features.
It’s Worse Than Just Streaming Apps
Unfortunately, this spying functionality is not limited to streaming apps or services where you are logged in.
You might assume that tracking only happens inside Netflix, YouTube, or other apps—and only because you agreed to their terms. Sadly, that’s not the full story.
Smart TVs can go much further:
- They can track DVDs you’re watching
- They can identify games you play on a connected console
- They can monitor anything displayed on the screen, even if it has nothing to do with streaming apps
In other words, the TV doesn’t just know which app you use—it can recognize what content is shown on the screen.
What If You Already Own a Smart TV?
First things first: Go through the settings of your TV and disable anything that looks suspicious or privacy-invasive.
In addition, it’s highly recommended to research how to disable ACR (Automatic Content Recognition).
ACR is the technology most Smart TV manufacturers use to identify and track what you’re watching. A quick internet search for your TV model and “disable ACR” usually helps.
Another option is to disconnect your Smart TV from the internet entirely. Yes, this is inconvenient. And yes, you still can’t be 100 percent sure whether the TV stores data locally and uploads it later when you reconnect it. That’s why the safer approach is to keep the TV offline permanently and handle streaming externally.
Instead of using built-in Smart TV apps, you can use an open source media player, such as Kodi, for your streaming needs. Here’s a guide on installing Kodi on a Smart TV:
https://kodi.expert/kodi-news/installing-kodi-on-your-smart-tv-a-2025-guide/
This way, your TV becomes “dumb” again—and that’s a good thing.
The Safest Option: Buy a “Dumb” Panel
If you want to be on the safest side, consider buying a so-called dumb TV or panel, a display without any smart features at all.Yes, it’s usually more expensive if you want comparable hardware quality.
But combining a non-smart panel and an open source media player is one of the best setups you can have from a privacy and data security perspective.
Smart TVs may look like a bargain, but the real cost is often invisible.
If you care about privacy, awareness is key—and sometimes, less “smart” is actually much smarter option.
Checklist
- Review your TV’s settings and disable all tracking, advertising, and personalization options.
- Look up your TV model online and disable Automatic Content Recognition (ACR).
- Disconnect your Smart TV from the internet and keep it offline whenever possible.
- Use an external, open source media player (such as Kodi) instead of built-in TV apps.
- Consider buying a non-smart (“dumb”) panel for your next TV upgrade if privacy matters to you.