Roku is exploring ways to show consumers ads on its TVs even when they are not using its streaming platform: The company has been looking into injecting ads into the video feeds of third-party devices connected to its TVs, according to a recent patent filing.

This way, when an owner of a Roku TV takes a short break from playing a game on their Xbox, or streaming something on an Apple TV device connected to the TV set, Roku would use that break to show ads. Roku engineers have even explored ways to figure out what the consumer is doing with their TV-connected device in order to display relevant advertising.

  • Draconic NEO
    link
    English
    18 months ago

    I get that it’s probably technically possible to bypass

    Not exactly a bypass it’s more so destruction of property (your own property might I add, since there’s no clause that says you have to return it to the company at some point)

    it’d actually be illegal to bypass and almost nobody would do it.

    Yeah we’re definitely not at the point in time yet where it is illegal to vandalize your own things, hacking in some places, but vandalism of your own property not so much (exceptions only for rentals or leases, which TVs aren’t since you never need to return them).