Chinese TV Maker Skyworth Under Fire For Excessive Data Collection That Users Call Spying

Chinese television maker Skyworth has issued an apology after a consumer found that his set was quietly collecting a wide range of private data and sending it to a Beijing-based analytics company without his consent. From a report: A network traffic analysis revealed that a Skyworth smart TV scanned for other devices connected to the same local network every 10 minutes and gathered data that included device names, IP addresses, network latency and even the names of other Wi-Fi networks within range, according to a post last week on the Chinese developer forum V2EX. The data was sent to the Beijing-based firm Gozen Data, the forum user said. Gozen is a data analytics company that specialises in targeted advertising on smart TVs, and it calls itself Chinaâs first "home marketing company empowered by big data centred on family data."

The user did not identify himself, and efforts to contact the person received no reply. However, the post quickly picked up steam, touching a nerve among Chinese consumers and prompting angry comments. "Isn't this already the criminal offence of spying on people?" asked one user on Sina.com, a Chinese financial news portal. "Whom will the collected data be sold to, and who is the end user of this data?"

We apologize for being caught

[Snotnose]

We should have been much sneakier. Our bad, carry on. Pay no attention to the data hoarder behind the curtain.

Re:

[cusco]

That reminds me that I haven't run Wireshark on my home network for a while. Should probably do that this weekend.

Re:

[ArchieBunker]

Rucka Rucka Ali

"That Users Call Spying"

[Type44Q]

That Users Call Spying

That logic and decency call "spying." FTFY, Msfuckingidiiot.

Re:

[Virtucon]

What you didn't read the ToS? [youtube.com]

Re:

[shmlco]

The Chinese government will probably be very upset over this. I mean, the company is, after all, enroaching on their turf.

New name for Skyworth?

[Sebby]

May I suggest "Privacy Rapists"?

Smart TVs

[RitchCraft]

This is one of the many reasons I will not own a "smart" TV. All I need is an LED panel, a power plug, and a VGA/DVI/HDMI input port. I'll use my own home built PCs to watch and update what I want, thank you.

Re:Smart TVs

[godel_56]

I''ll bet that soon all TVs will come with this shit whether you want it or not.

I read recently that one TV maker has a patent for forming a mesh network with other TVs of the same brand (using Bluetooth?) so even not being personally connected to the internet may not prevent all your personal information being siphoned off and sent to central office by a third party

Re:

[RitchCraft]

There are alternatives. Look into industrial display panels. They are not cheap (because they are not subsidized by stealing your data) but do one thing well ... display a video signal. I would gladly pay 5 times the cost to be sure I'M IN CONTROL.

Re:

[The Evil Atheist]

He's saying he'll build his own - a PC. So it doesn't matter if all TVs are smart, because his TV is his own computer.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:

[RitchCraft]

I simply use either remote desktop or VNC to control the PC remotely either through a phone, tablet, or laptop. Best remote in the world. There is nothing convenient a smart TV can offer me that I can't do in a simpler, much less hassle free (and non-intrusive) way.

Re:

[RitchCraft]

Oh, and as far as Ethernet on a TV ... don't connect it. If the TV will not work without an Ethernet connection then move on to something else. If the TV uses WiFi make sure you add it's MAC address to the list of blocked devices in your router through DHCP. Better yet, don't use DHCP and assign all your home devices to static IP addresses. That's what I do. I have TOTAL control.

Re:

[Frederic54]

Believe me, it's not easy to find... I still have my dumb 55"LCD that is working perfectly, but I needed a smaller one, I bought a smart roku TV, it needed connection for setup/update firmware, once fully booted, I went into the settings to forget the connection. I plugged a Chromecast to cast my stuff, that's it.

Re:

[RitchCraft]

I've been looking at industrial display panels for my next purchase. I currently have a Samsung 40" from 2009 and it's been working great. However, I know it won't last forever. Industrial displays are expensive, but worth the extra cost to me because they do one thing well ... display a video signal. That's ALL I need.

Re:

[Zagnar]

you should welcome monitoring

It's especially funny that you posted this anonymously.

Re:

[Admiral Krunch]

None of this could be used to harm you. Unless you're a Trumptard looking to storm the Capital you should welcome monitoring - since you aren't doing anything wrong.

It's especially funny that you posted this anonymously.

Clearly he's a Trumptard looking to storm the capital.
Quite a few months late, but he does seem kinda slow.

That's some fine journalism right there.

[Pierre Pants]

"That users call spying". My first thought: If this was written by a non-Chinese "newspaper" feel free to cut off my balls. Second thought: Let's see what's "scmp.com" - it's South China Morning Post. Oh.

Selective scandal

[sinij]

Why is there no outrage when Google's Android does essentially the same unless you put custom ROM on it or spend hours figuring out where privacy settings and opt-outs are hidden?

Re:

[luvirini]

There has been. But eventually most people unfortunately stop caring,

This is SOP in the business

[Anonymous Coward]

That's why you shouldn't give a damn about the features of any TV. It needs an input for HDMI signals and should beautifully show material with any frame rate, bit depth and resolution. That's it. Use a separate box for everything else and ideally use open source software.

I have recently witnessed that an LG "smart" TV will become sluggish and have visual judders every few seconds if you don't give it an internet connection. That happens whether you refuse all the tracking legalese or not, which LG warns yo

Chinese products all do this

[beepsky]

If he cares about privacy why is he using Chinese stuff?
Chinese people couldn't give half a rat's ass about privacy (their own and others' too)

They are mad about a TV company?

[wakeboarder]

What about the Chinese government? The Chinese government knows/tracks the location of every person, every purchase, every website and every contact that you've called or visited.

TCL does this

[amorsen]

It has been widely reported that TCL does similar things. TCL is also conveniently remotely firmware upgradable by TCL, and it has microphones for voice control.

Re: TCL does this

[BAReFO0t]

Wat... Yes on the rest, probably, but ... who the hell would definitely deliver firmware upgrades for a device but the manufacturer?

Did you just throw that in to make yourself look like a complete moron? I mean was the ruining of yoir own argument intentional? Are you a Chinese-American co-production of total retardation in cancer form, or what?

Re:

[mhotchin]

You missed the point. Of course the manufacturer produces the firmware. The unpleasant part is that the manufacturer is the one deciding to install it, and does so without your permission or assistance.

How cute!

[BAReFO0t]

China's trying to have their own Google!

They grow up so fast!

Block Anything

[theshowmecanuck]

Nobody needs IoT. It doesn't even bring that much value. Especially considering how much you open yourself up to. Anyway, block your TV from the internet, and run an HDMI or Display Port cable from a computer and stream your services from that. Problem solved. And get off your ass and turn the light on yourself.

Same as western set top box manufacturers

[takionya]

Exactly the same as Sky and your ISP provided set top box is doing. Where's the technology angle slashdot?