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LG is rolling out a new terms of use and privacy policy agreement. Looking pretty ugly over here with my "Smart TV". What can I do? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/techsupport@lemmy.world

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It seems to be related to some advertising push from a partner named Alfonso that is gathering information cross-platform anything that appears on your screen and pushing advertising to you during playback.

Hopefully not, but that's what it looks like from early reading.

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[-] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 60 points 3 weeks ago

My LG TV is not connected to the internet.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 weeks ago

Very smart. Do you live alone? My family is down with the sickness.

[-] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 35 points 3 weeks ago

The TV is essentially used as a dumb monitor and has an Apple TV and Chromecast plugged into it.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I've got a Fire in the back of mine which I want everyone to use, but everyone just uses the LG interface except me.

Of course it screws up all the time, and when it does my first question is, "Hey did you try what you're doing on the Fire plugged into the back to see if it worked on that?"

Not like I love the fire either, but pick your poison, right? Apple, Amazon, Google, LG. Which large tech company would you like to milk your information?

[-] PleaseLetMeOut@lemm.ee 19 points 3 weeks ago

Sounds like it's time to block the TV from the network and just play dumb lol

[-] Aphelion@lemm.ee 9 points 3 weeks ago

They'll never use the LG interface again if you just block its Mac adresses from your router.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

I'm tech support in the house.

You want me to have to admit I can't fix something?

[-] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 8 points 3 weeks ago

"I fixed it so our personal information doesn't get sold to the highest bidder."

[-] thezeesystem 4 points 3 weeks ago

To be honest I would, the more they think you can fix anything the more annoying they are about fixing everything even if it's not even possible. From my experiences in the past I just would tell them there was a update and it stopped the TV from connecting to online and there's nothing you can do about it

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[-] Wrrzag@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 weeks ago

It's easy. "They must have changed something and it broke. Luckily I planned ahead and got the firetv so you could still watch everything as usual".

Bonus points because it's not a lie, they changed the tos, and you are now this clever guy that prepared a plan b in case something stopped working because you didn't want them to suffer. Intelligent, loving Melatonin.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 7 points 3 weeks ago

I have an old laptop running LibreELEC (literally) strapped to the back of my TV. With a PC connected remote it works great.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago

That's the way we do it, Dave! Making fire with sticks!

[-] lime@feddit.nu 3 points 3 weeks ago

does the fire stick have the ability to wake the tv up? in that case, just hide the TV remote.

[-] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 3 points 3 weeks ago

That's precisely how we use it.

[-] entwine413@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago

Lol, that makes it better?

[-] PlantJam@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago

Yes from a hardware and user experience perspective, and a more pessimistic maybe/not really from a privacy perspective. I think smart TVs are a little more aggressive with their anti user changes because they see it as a captive audience. They market the hardware specs, then add ads to the UI. Streaming sticks really only have their user interface and user experience to market, so they're a little less aggressive with the negative changes.

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[-] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

Time for a Pi-Hole or similar if you don’t already have one.

[-] Thorry84@feddit.nl 57 points 3 weeks ago

This is one of my pet peeves. With these modern internet connected devices, manufacturers can just change the terms and conditions on you after you've made the purchase. OK, so would it be fair to say I can also change the terms and conditions, like for example this devalues my product and I want part of my money back?

It's such bullshit, especially with something like a phone or a TV, the software is a big part of why I select a certain device to purchase over another. I then want that devices to behave exactly like when I purchased it. Being connected to the internet means it requires regular updates for security. But these days that also means fucking with the features and the EULA, I hate that shit.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 weeks ago

Didn't some very clever person send a company his own change of terms and conditions? I think I remember something like that.

I wish I was an extremely smart lawyer type person and could jack them up like that myself.

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[-] fubarx@lemmy.world 25 points 3 weeks ago

Pihole block list for TVs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Perflyst/PiHoleBlocklist/master/SmartTV.txt

If your router supports blocking, you can just do it manually one by one and see when things break.

[-] kindenough@kbin.earth 20 points 3 weeks ago

My LG, and all other TV’s in my home are disconnected from the internet, because of ACR and ads. I use a seperate setup box. I did have a pihole blocking most of the smart tv telemetry, but I still did not trust the smart part of my tv.

[-] TheOSINTguy@sh.itjust.works 20 points 3 weeks ago

Disconnecting it from the internet should do the trick.

[-] Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Read carefully, most of those do not need to be accepted or agreed to.

Always assume they are trying to trick you into thinking you have to agree to new legally optional features.

The good news is, even if you did accidentally agree to them, you can revoke it deep in the settings menu.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Thank you, I already got that good advice from another awesome person like yourself! Not only was I able to avoid falling for their trap, but I unchecked some options I had apparently checked in the past!

The ole Lemmy reversearoo!!! Thanks as always,

🎵 I get by with a little help from my friends! 🎶

[-] Eeyore_Syndrome@sh.itjust.works 18 points 3 weeks ago

Offline.

Mostly just use my Kodi/Shield setup+my 4kUHD player.

[-] Artemis@lemmy.ml 11 points 3 weeks ago

It looks like you only have to agree to the first two options, if I'm reading correctly. Definitely second the pi-hole option if that isn't the case though...super easy to find telemetry domains based on what still works after blacklisting something (you can also find lists online).

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Oh my that really helped, thank you so much.

I really was freaking out there thinking I had to agree to all that crap.

A 100% explore the pi-hole thing. Plus why don't we all become multi-billionaires by selling TVs that just TV? And toasters that just toast? Smartphones that do things that you put on them, but don't do things that you don't?

How about we start a company that makes shit that does what it's supposed to do and doesn't do extra shit? (...And encourage an active and open plug-in community)

[-] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

There are two problems with scaling back to the old way of doing things: 1) enshitification and 2) endless seeking of upward growth and profit.

This case is especially egregious since it's not an extra thing that made this TV look like a good deal at Target/BestBuy/whatever. Instead, it's a secondary way for LG to directly monetize your use of the appliance (ads and data). So, they've all but given up trying to make a better or more cost-effective TV and are just figuring out how to charge you rent for it instead.

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[-] Artemis@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago

Glad it helped! I just factory reset my Sony Bravia the other day so it's fresh in my memory. Agree on all fronts! Couldn't live in today's world without my pi-hole 😅.

[-] Tronn4@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

Play porn 24/7

[-] Agent641@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

So just carry on as normal?

[-] Tronn4@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Stay the course captain

[-] noxypaws@pawb.social 7 points 3 weeks ago

My LG CX has been blocked from the network for years, starting from the instant the fucker popped up some notice about some shit that wasn't relevant to the TV displaying content.

Get that shit airgapped. Use a Steam Deck or an old PC tower or laptop to take over for the builtin stuff.

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[-] GoatTnder@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

I use a Roku and the Roku remote instead of the TV one. The Roku remote has power, volume, and mute buttons that control the TV. And that's really all you need. Is there a similar remote for Fire Stick?

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

Yep, it's very similar to the Roku, which I also have on other TVs and have used in the past on this one, but the fire also has the ability to sideload akp apps and can be a lot more versatile than the Roku.

I have retroarch loaded on my fire, and I can grab a Bluetooth controller and play some old Nintendo if I want. Took a little configuring, but I enjoy that kind of thing.

At first I will tell you the fire has a very ugly interface. Lots of banner advertising at the top and looks very messy and crowded. You just have to get used to the ugly. It's no Roku in that respect. Roku is much cleaner.

[-] thegr8goldfish@startrek.website 3 points 3 weeks ago

I like them because they're so cheap. Plus SmartTube is the only way I can bear to watch youtubes on the TV anymore.

[-] DuskyRo@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Disconnect from the internet. Buy Mi Box S 2nd gen & update it. Root it(optional). Debloat, install Kodi, SmartTube or Stremio. I recommend FLauncher for alternative launcher.

[-] mybuttnolie@sopuli.xyz 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Tried this mi box a few years ago and I couldn't figure it out.. It was like crippled android. Couldn't find the apps that I wanted, keyboard didn't have my language available so I was missing characters that I need to access my smb share where I would have had the apks. Got mad and threw it out the window. Went looking for it the next day as I wanted to return it, I'm poor so I can't waste money like that, but my neighbor was outside just yelling something about his car's windshield, so decided to stay indoors. The next day it was gone, so I bought a used cheap mini pc, installed mint on it and been using it with a remote that has kb and trackpad, 5/5.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

Yar, matey! I'll be looking into these suggestions!

[-] DuskyRo@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Any tv box will do but with this box you can retain root while still having Widevone L1 & Dolby Vision

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[-] zarlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

This seems like the kind of data that can easily be added to a PiHole or Adguard Home blocklist, just need to find out which endpoint they are.

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[-] KingOogaBooga@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

If you buy the TV and they don't watch your shit. then change TOS to watch your shit. They should refund a percentage if you return the TV. They changed the deal after the fact. Should be illegal.

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[-] MudMan@fedia.io 2 points 3 weeks ago

I have my LGs connected, but logged out.

It's a hassle in that it requires to log in and then back out for mandatory updates of some apps (others will update without a logout, for some reason), but at least it removes the need to agree to a whole bunch of their garbage and add it to an identifying account.

I would keep it offline and use a set-top box, but I have family members that aren't tech savvy and won't want more hassle than pressing the "Netlfix" button on the remote.

I'll say that even they are increasingly annoyed at the constant cookie prompts during live TV watching. Honestly broadcast TV is an absolute hellscape these days.

[-] jqubed@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Honestly broadcast TV is an absolute hellscape these days.

As a former broadcaster, I just want to point out that actual broadcast TV is the one place you won’t get this. Plug an antenna into the back of your TV and you’ll get the signals from your local station with none of the tracking. It’s a one-way street; the transmitter antenna pumps the signal out from however many miles away and gets nothing back from you. Your local station probably prefers that you watch that way or on a traditional cable box (cable companies usually have to pay the local stations); they don’t really get much from you watching a streaming service. The streaming services like Peacock or Paramount+ let the networks largely bypass the local stations.

[-] MudMan@fedia.io 3 points 3 weeks ago

No, you absolutely get this.

Maybe because cookie warnings are mandatory here, I am PAINFULLY aware of when the layer of TV malware is pulling info to go along with the TV broadcast. I dismiss advertising cookie warnings in three separate TVs on a daily basis. Once per channel, even. It's incredibly obnoxious.

For the record, the data mining is not happening over the broadcast. It's the TV software that is pulling watch data and then repackaging along with the broadcaster and selling it to advertisers. I know because they are mandated to disclose it, so they make me read about it a dozen times a day.

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[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

What else would you use to watch? I used to have my TV offline and watch through a Firestick and airplay, but now the Firestick is worse than the TV apps. I need a new media streamer, but even Roku has enshittified. At this point my only hope is Apple but Apple TV hasn’t been updated in three years

…. Or I might just give up, since Netflix decided my TV is not part of my household so I need a 2fa every time I want to watch.

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