BARB pop up on TV

Largs

Hello.

I switched on my TV just now, nothing on as per but noticed Titanic on Channel 4.

A pop up appeared from BARB saying they were monitoring what I was watching, I couldn't get to read the rest of the text before it disappeared.

Has anyone else had this?

grumpy_codger

 

Techie Stuff  board is a better place for this sort of questions.

These are some posts from a recent discussion on some local forum:

I was watching tv and a message popped up saying my tv is now being tracked and monitored and they will be storing all data on what I watch!!? Does anyone else hate how everything tracks us? It feels like big brother is watching all the time!!! I miss the olden days when my business was by business and not these greedy corporations 😡

Yes, it's true that smart TVs often track and store data about your viewing habits. This data can be used for targeted advertising, content recommendations, and other purposes. While you can opt-out of some tracking features, others are integral to the user experience and may be difficult or impossible to fully disable. 
Here's a more detailed explanation:
How Smart TVs Track You:
Automatic Content Recognition (ACR):
Many smart TVs use ACR technology to identify everything you watch, including cable, streaming services, and even Blu-ray discs. 
Personalized Advertising:
Data collected through ACR and other tracking features can be used to target ads based on your viewing habits and demographics. 
Content Recommendations:
Your viewing history can also be used to suggest shows and movies you might like. 
Location Tracking:
Some smart TVs may also track your location, especially if you have location services enabled. 
Built-in Cameras and Microphones:
Smart TVs with cameras and microphones can be vulnerable to hacking and could be used to spy on you. 
How to Limit Tracking:
Disable ACR:
Look for ACR or similar features in your TV's settings menu and disable them. 
Turn off personalized advertising:
Find the relevant settings in your TV's privacy or settings menu and disable personalized ads. 
Limit data sharing:
Some TVs allow you to limit how much data is shared with manufacturers or third-party companies. 
Unplug the TV:
The most effective way to stop tracking is to unplug your TV from the internet and power. 
Cover the camera and microphone:
If your TV has a camera or microphone, consider covering them with tape or a physical cover. 
Use a separate streaming device:
Consider using a separate streaming device with stricter privacy settings and connect it to your TV. 
Important Considerations:
Privacy policies:
Be sure to read the privacy policies of your TV manufacturer and any streaming services you use to understand how your data is being collected and used. 
Manufacturer practices:
Different manufacturers have different tracking practices, so be sure to research your specific TV model. 
Hacking risks:
Smart TVs can be vulnerable to hacking, so it's important to keep your TV's software up to date and take steps to protect it from unauthorized access. 
By understanding how your smart TV tracks you and taking steps to limit tracking, you can help protect your privacy.

I had this pop up last night and thanks to Cindy posting i read i knew instantly what it was and pressed the yellow button to stop tracking

I didn’t get chance to press opt out because it disappeared so fast !

https://nextdoor.co.uk/p/F_nPHFpdwrQ5?post=17592238342171&utm_source=email&section=post_0&mar=true&ct=SdJUYwNJYcuJMYPQapy5Rf2YyYTSC2g0xEk5htvBFio2a9eVFDIi-qFc2oASGVPw&ec=OWKiQRDj9vEHAYwTV6YMARldwuFdgGkeefhwfGYAE0s=&mobile_deeplink_data=eyJhY3Rpb24iOiAidmlld19wb3N0IiwgInBvc3QiOiAxNzU5MjIzODM0MjE3MX0= 

(You have to sign up to see it)

WIAWSNB

Had the opt-out message last night - press yellow.
I didn't bother, 'cos I ain't paranoid.

Peter999_2

WIAWSNB said:

Had the opt-out message last night - press yellow.
I didn't bother, 'cos I ain't paranoid.

If you think about it, it is a good idea to keep it on like you have.

Every program you watch will be logged therefore it is more likey the programs you like will be renewed as they know people are watching it.     Glass half full and all.

WIAWSNB

Curious why it was only Ch4?

Lorian

Only because they happened to be on ch4 at the time the TV decided to tell them their viewing habits were being recorded. Personally I opt out of ACR.

Rodders53

Privacy Barb might cover some of it?

Only seems to appear on COMmercial channels and not the BBC (when you press <yellow> button when on a channel you see a confirmation you have opted out). 
One needs to wait for the MHEG/HbbTV app to load on any channel change (many seconds maybe 10-20?)  Dwell time of the box seems to vary by TV brand / processor.

It doesn't work on my ancient Freeview PVR (HDR-Fox-T2).

MattHawkins

I just had this while watching Sky News on my Samsung TV. They know I dont have a yellow button on my remote and have to click 3 times to get to it. I also suspected they wouldn't give me enough time to read the small print so I opted out as quick as possible.

This should 100% be opt-in. Rather than flash some tiny text on the screen with no real context or time to make an informed decision.

outtatune

MattHawkins said:

I just had this while watching Sky News on my Samsung TV. They know I dont have a yellow button on my remote and have to click 3 times to get to it. I also suspected they wouldn't give me enough time to read the small print so I opted out as quick as possible.

This should 100% be opt-in. Rather than flash some tiny text on the screen with no real context or time to make an informed decision.

Why would they know this, and how have you managed to buy a TV which doesn't have a yellow button the remote?

MattHawkins

outtatune said:

MattHawkins said:

I just had this while watching Sky News on my Samsung TV. They know I dont have a yellow button on my remote and have to click 3 times to get to it. I also suspected they wouldn't give me enough time to read the small print so I opted out as quick as possible.

This should 100% be opt-in. Rather than flash some tiny text on the screen with no real context or time to make an informed decision.

Why would they know this, and how have you managed to buy a TV which doesn't have a yellow button the remote?

They are the ones running the software. Of course they know what model it is running on. My remote has no yellow button. Samsung 50Q60C. To get to "yellow" I have to press a button on the remote and click three times.

Today I had the popup message *again*. So it completely ignored my previous opt-out. Impossible to opt-out. Almost certainly illegal but they will be allowed to do it anyway.