Post #3292881

2026-06-09 01:49 UTC

@monkeyninja@10base2.dev Really, so-called smart TVs even with very big screens are dirt cheap because the manufacturers figure most people will let them do the data collection, especially automatic content recognition. But by law (in the U.S.) you have to be able to turn all of that off, and if you really want to play it safe just don't connect it to the Internet. Cheap TV, no network. Easy. And if you want to stream something at some point, just attach a dongle to one of the HDMI ports.

Replies (2)

@markd@hachyderm.io 2026-06-09 02:20

@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org @monkeyninja@10base2.dev About 12 years ago I wired up multiple network ports into the media nook as I could see that smart everything and network connected streamers were coming down the pike and I wanted to future-proof the place while I had the chance. Fast forward to the present day and only one port is used (ATV) even tho the nook is replete with network capable devices. Same for the kitchen and lounge. Lots of unused network ports next to the taped-over NICs of our residential Trojan Horses. Talk about dashed hopes and dreams for a network connected world.

Open ##3292882
@cazabon@mindly.social 2026-06-09 05:13

@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org @monkeyninja@10base2.dev At some point, the TV companies (and maybe other appliance companies) will put LTE radios in the TV sets, so that it has a fallback internet connection even if you don't give it one. Not speculation; I've heard industry folks saying this. So get ready to open up your next TV and rip the antenna out of it.

Open ##3292883