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Comment by throw0101c | Hacker News Reader

> But for some reason Sony or Samsung doing the same on your TV is too far?

The content streamers get your viewing habits by virtue of you viewing their content (like Youtube, or any web site, getting information on what you're looking at by simply logging HTTP GET requests).

There is no reason why television OEMs need to do screen captures and send them to the mothership.

It's the first- and second-party interaction: you gave money to Sony/Samsung/etc for a product, and after the exchange there is no reason for any further interaction.

You have a regular/monthly interaction with content providers: there is at least a valid reason for the content providers to have that information in the first place, and none for the TV OEMs to collect it.

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You can reason it all you want, but regardless of the product type the fact remains you are happy to give your data to one billion dollar company but not another.

That is absolutely fine, but IMO it is hypocritical. That is all I am arguing.

I don't want random people listening in on me, but I don't mind the person I choose to speak to listening to me.

Does that qualify as hypocrisy too?

You can argue against dealing with any billion dollar company. But drop the hypocrisy framing, it is nonsensical and your point will be stronger without it.

Do you think all the apps on your phone that you give permission to use the microphone are only using it when you choose to speak into it?

You obviously havent read my posts very well. I have repeatedly said that the hypocrisy is subjective, my opinion only, and I am not trying to convince anyone otherwise. You are entitles to think whatever you want, trust whoever you want, and believe what ever you want. I am entitled to consider it hypocrisy if you are turning a blind eye to tracking from one side but happy allowing it from another.

> Do you think all the apps on your phone that you give permission to use the microphone are only using it when you choose to speak into it?

Given that my iPhone has a little LED that lights up when the the microphone (or camera) are active, it is fairly easy to confirm that that the mic is not being used.

> That is absolutely fine, but IMO it is hypocritical. That is all I am arguing.

I am okay "giving my data" to the billion dollar company of (say) Netflix of Disney+ because I need to be able to log into the service and get the video streams. It is a necessary part of getting the service to provide (e.g.) billing information like a credit card.

I am not okay with giving my data to the billion dollar company of Sony or Samsung because having a display take in HDMI bits and produce photons on a screen does not necessitate any phone home functionality.

I am not okay with Netflix or Disney+ giving data to third parties because doing so is not necessary to provide the service.

> but IMO it is hypocritical

Your opinion is wrong. There's no hypocrisy, and it was explained to you why some companies have done better than others.

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