TV maker illegally tracked and sold viewing data

 

The television maker Vizio has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collected data from 11 million people without their consent. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker was filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been gathering and selling data on customers without permission for years. The FTC claimed Vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically tracked what people were watching. They fitted tracking devices to TVs made before 2014 by using software updates. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t know that while they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

The FTC said Vizio captured second-by-second information about what people were watching. The company also recorded people's IP addresses. The FTC said this was a breach of privacy and security. It said: "The data generated when you watch television can reveal a lot about you and your household." Vizio sold information to advertisers about people's age, sex, household size and income, marital status, home ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made it clear that all smart-TV makers should get people's consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information."

1. SELLING DATA: Students A strongly believe it should be illegal for companies to sell personal data; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  

2. PERSONAL INFO: Is it OK to give these people the personal information below? Complete this table.

 

Bank

New friend

Online store

Gaming website

Matchmaking
Agency


 

 

 

 

 

Date of birth

 

 

 

 

 

Address

 

 

 

 

 

Marital status

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

 

 

 

 

Education level

 

 

 

 

 


3. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. agreed
  2. settle
  3. lawsuit
  4. fitted
  5. devices
  6. captured
  7. breach
  8. generated
  9. status
  10. clear
  1. legal action
  2. violation
  3. gadgets
  4. position
  5. resolve
  6. brought about
  7. recorded
  8. consented
  9. evident
  10. inserted

4.Role play

Role A — Date of Birth

You think your date of birth is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why): 

Role B — Weight

You think your weight is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why):  

Role C — Income

You think your income is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why):  

Role D — Passport Number

You think your passport number is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why):  

Role E - ATM card PIN number

You think your  ATM card PIN numbers the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why):  

Role F - Marital Status

You think your marital status  the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why):  

5.Discussion - TV maker illegally tracked and sold viewing data

  1. How much do you worry about your personal information?
  2. How surprised are you a TV maker can do this?
  3. What do companies do with the data they collect on you?
  4. Should the 11 million people be able to sue the TV maker?
  5. How legal were the TV maker's actions?
  6. What would you do if you were one of the 11 million?
  7. Will you now worry more about your personal information?
  8. What can bad people do with your IP address?
  9. How secure do you think you are online?
  10. What advice do you have for people to safeguard their privacy?
  11. How dangerous is it to give personal information online?
  12. Why do you think the company did not share people's names?
  13. What would people learn about you from the Internet sites you visit?
  14. What do your TV viewing habits say about you?
  15. What questions would you like to ask the boss of Vizio?

6.Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. to eltset claims
  2. the aiswult
  3. Federal Trade mCmosinsoi
  4. without niesismpor
  5. tracking isveced
  6. software tasepdu

Paragraph 2

  1. eapdcrtu second-by-second information
  2. a reachb of privacy
  3. avleer a lot about you
  4. aatmirl status
  5. Vizio yearlw
  6. get people's cntosen

 

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