Redakcja Choose TV
Your television can do much more than just play Netflix. New reports show that devices with systems like Fire TV, Roku OS, or even webOS and Tizen can be used as part of so-called proxy networks, which in the background scour the internet and collect data often without the user's knowledge. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it concerns real mechanisms used, among other things, for training AI and bypassing network restrictions.
Smart TV as part of a global network that collects data for companies and potentially other entities
The whole mechanism is based on so-called residential proxy networks, where your device becomes a "mediator" on the internet. Companies like Bright Data use your TV's IP address to fetch data from websites, including video or audio, and forward it to their servers. This makes it appear as normal user traffic, which allows bypassing security measures that block bots and AI data centres. The problem is that your device operates in the background, even when you're not watching anything, and the impact on performance or resource consumption is not entirely clear.
Smart TV as part of a global network that collects data for companies and potentially other entities
The entire mechanism is based on so-called residential proxy networks, where your device becomes a “proxy” on the internet. Companies like Bright Data use the IP address of your television to gather data from websites, including videos and audio, and forward it to their servers. This makes it appear as normal user traffic, allowing it to bypass security measures that block bots and AI data centres. The problem is that your equipment is working in the background even when you are not watching anything, and the impact on performance or resource consumption is not entirely clear.
Smart TV is no longer just a screen for watching; it is a device that can actively participate in processing data on the internet. The question is: is it worth saving a few pounds by relinquishing some control over your device?
source: flatpanelshd.com
