Report Highlights Concerns Over Privacy Risks Posed by CTV Platforms

While enjoying our favorite shows, we unknowingly become subjects being observed by the television itself

, and Administrator

2025 September 28 . 9:01 PM

2 min read

CTV Digital Democracy Center Issues Report Highlighting Risks to Personal Privacy

Report Highlights Concerns Over Privacy Risks Posed by CTV Platforms

The Center for Digital Democracy has released a new report titled 'How TV Watches Us, Commercial Surveillance in the Streaming Era.' Authored by Jeff Chester and Kathryn C. Montgomery, the report raises concerns about the impact of connected television (CTV) on competition, privacy, and the overall media landscape.

The report highlights the growing investment in ad-supported streaming, with advertisers investing $25 billion in the U.S. in 2023 alone. One of the dominant players in this space is Tubi, a free streaming service owned by Samsung, which offers 270 FAST channels to 78 million viewers. However, the report criticizes the connected TV industry, stating that privacy is being threatened due to the rise of AI and ad-supported streaming channels.

Tubi, primarily a data company, boasts access to 'billions of rows of data on its customers, gathered from their viewing behaviors.' This extensive data collection raises concerns about potential threats to consumers, especially children and adolescents who are avid users of Samsung TVs.

The report cites the 2017 settlement by Vizio with the FTC about its data practices as a potential basis for investigation. Additionally, policymakers, advocates, and sports CTV company Fubo have expressed concerns about the potential impact of Venu, a sports streaming joint venture between The Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Discovery, and Samsung, on competition and the marketplace.

The authors of the report call for more robust privacy protections, including against dangerous surveillance practices in political, health, and children's advertising. They warn that lobbyists and trade associations for the connected TV industry may use the 'it's too early to regulate' mantra to thwart efforts to enact laws and regulations.

The report emphasizes the importance of protecting consumers and serving democracy as connected TV continues to move into a central and influential position in the media landscape. It calls on regulatory bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), and other national data protection authorities to address the practices in connected TV surveillance.

The report can be read online for those interested in learning more about the issues surrounding CTV and commercial surveillance in the streaming era. As policymakers and consumers alike grapple with the implications of this transformative technology, it is crucial to ensure that privacy and competition remain at the forefront of the conversation.