Comment on Can you un-smart a smart tv?

• philpo@feddit.de ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Nope, not that easy. I can only speak for EU regulations (but at least my colleagues who did FCC were complaining that they were stricter) but they require to make it clear that the user needs to be made directly aware that the device emits radio waves, define which frequencies/techniques are used (so they can’t make you think they are using Bluetooth for the remote but in reality also have a NB-LTE card in the device) and the device must (and this is seen very strict) keep any radio emitting off when it’s configured to do so. (This brought Samsung,Sonos and Amazon and Xiaomi in trouble in regards to “airline” modes that didn’t really deactivate everything or devices that could self activate).

  So yeah, they could surely build the TV in a way that it only works with WiFi/whatever turned on(basically any Alexa device works that way),once there is a (software) switch they cannot silently still transmit, even if you agreed to it in some obscure TOS- this would lead to a market ban. And they need to tell you which frequencies they use - so you can be aware of it.

  This is just the radio frequency side of it - I am fairly sure that there is at least one EU country that requires users to be able to switch off each frequency band on it’s own (may also be in EU consumer regulation laws,but I come from MedTech, not my field)

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  • tsonfeir@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I think you’re missing my point

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    • SkippingRelax@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Some of the eu regulations, you can’t just waive them by accepting an unreasonable EULA.

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      • tsonfeir@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        And what is the penalty? A fine? That’s just part of the business model. Let’s say Samsung, a major appliance manufacturer, had a Refrigerator that sent data back to Samsung. The code is set to occasionally browse for an open WiFi network, in the event that one is not provided, and send encrypted data to them then disconnect.

        Let’s say that someone figured out it was making connections. “It’s a bug, it’s just scanning for WiFi like your computer does to allow you to connect.”

        But, they point out it’s sending data. “It’s just a bug related to software update checks.”

        Okay, so someone manages to crack open SSL, unlikely, and they get a bunch of odd data that is probably usage data or whatever. Let’s also say that anyone in the government gives a shit. They do what, tell them to stop? They say “Okay we will stop, but everyone needs to update their firmware.” — now they are off the hook. No one updates.

        My point is not about the existence laws, but that corporations don’t care. The reward is worth the risk to them. The EU can’t realistically ban Samsung from doing business, there would be chaos if people couldn’t get their new Samsung Galaxy Phone.

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