Smart TVs can record audio and capture on-screen screenshots to transmit data to third parties, Anna Maria Mandalari said [1].

This capability transforms a common household appliance into a potential surveillance tool. Because these devices are typically installed in private living rooms, the collection of audio and visual data creates significant privacy risks for users [4, 5].

Manufacturers and third-party services use this data for advertising, analytics, and service improvement [2, 5]. The level of monitoring can be granular, with some devices capable of capturing screenshots of on-screen content as frequently as every 15 seconds [2].

Samsung has been identified as one of the manufacturers producing these smart devices [1]. The process allows companies to track user behavior and environment in real time, a practice that critics suggest mirrors intrusive surveillance states.

Users can take steps to limit this tracking, though the default settings often favor data collection. Privacy experts said users should audit device permissions and disable automatic reporting features to prevent the transmission of sensitive home information [3, 4].

These devices rely on integrated microphones and software that monitors the display buffer. By capturing what is on the screen and what is said in the room, companies build detailed consumer profiles without the explicit, active consent of every person in the household [2, 5].

“Smart TVs can capture screenshots of on-screen content as frequently as every 15 seconds.”

The ability of smart TVs to perform frequent screen captures and audio recording signals a shift in the 'Internet of Things' toward more aggressive data harvesting. As home entertainment systems become more integrated, the boundary between consumer convenience and corporate surveillance blurs, necessitating stricter regulation of how hardware manufacturers handle biometric and environmental data in private spaces.