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Yes, even your TV is spying on you. The terms of service on a smart TV change like the wind, and every time you’re asked to accept a litany of new agreements that go beyond what is necessary for the TV to function, you’re likely volunteering to be spied on by your own smart TV, if it hasn’t already been enabled by default. The mole in your house is called Automated Content Recognition (ACR).

ACR is a technology that identifies what it is you’re watching on your TV. This applies to both visual and audio sources. This not only works for built-in apps but also anything connected through HDMI ports, like an Amazon Fire Stick or game consoles. You could be completely offline, connecting an old school DVD drive to your TV, and manufacturers can still steal that data.

Companies use ACR to learn what you like and don’t like and then use that information to hit you with ads or suggest content.…