Owners of Vizio smart TVs have limited control over software that tracks viewing habits, pushes ads, and shapes device experience. The Software Freedom Conservancy has spent years trying to obtain the complete source code for Vizio’s Linux-based smart TV operating system. After delays following a 2021 lawsuit, a California jury will decide in August whether Vizio must provide the code in executable form to the nonprofit and to any Vizio TV owner who requests it. The result could affect the broader smart TV industry because many operating systems are Linux-based. Access to full code would enable meaningful changes, including limiting ads or disabling automatic content recognition.
"For years, owners of Vizio smart TVs have had little control over the software running on their sets-software that can track viewing habits, push ads, and generally shape the experience of using the device."
"The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC), a US nonprofit that promotes and provides legal support for free and open source software projects, isn't happy about that-so much so that it has spent eight years trying to force the release of the complete source code for Vizio's Linux-based smart TV operating system."
"Now, after numerous delays since the SFC filed suit in 2021, a California jury will decide in August whether Vizio must provide that code in executable form to SFC and any Vizio TV owner who wants it."
"Access to the full code would allow users to make meaningful changes to how their TVs work, including limiting ads or deactivating automatic content recognition."
#smart-tv-privacy #open-source-licensing #linux-based-operating-systems #ad-tracking #software-freedom-conservancy
Read at Ars Technica
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