A report from the Centre for Digital Democracy (CDD), released today and submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), shows that the streaming industry has developed unprecedented tracking techniques designed to satisfy advertisers.

The report’s co-author, Jeffrey Chester, said these techniques have made connected TVs (CTVs) a “privacy nightmare,” prompting calls for stricter regulation.

The 48-page report, titled How TV Watches Us: Commercial Surveillance in the Streaming Era, offers a comprehensive overview of the various methods streaming services and hardware use to target viewers, which the CDD argues pose significant privacy risks.

The nonprofit organisation compiled the report to advocate for regulatory measures. Today, the CDD sent letters to the FTC, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), California attorney general, and California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to express its concerns.

“Not only does CTV operate in ways that are unfair to consumers, but it is also putting them and their families at risk as it gathers and uses sensitive data about health, children, race, and political interests,” Chester stated.