Roku Plans to Inject Ads via HDMI: Adblocking is COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED, and your duty as a citizen

Louis Rossmann
5 Apr 202412:04

Summary

TLDRThe speaker criticizes Roku for altering terms post-purchase and patenting a technology to insert ads into paused content. They argue that companies should respect consumer consent and privacy, and encourage viewers to use ad blockers to resist invasive advertising practices. The speaker emphasizes the importance of ethical consumer behavior in the face of industry predatory practices.

Takeaways

  • 🚫 The speaker criticizes companies like Roku for what they perceive as a lack of concern for user consent, likening it to a 'rapist mentality'.
  • 💭 The speaker recounts past instances where major automakers and organizations used fear-mongering to sway public opinion, comparing it to companies violating user consent.
  • 📱 Roku forced users into accepting new terms, including a forced arbitration agreement, by limiting access to their televisions until they agreed.
  • 💡 Roku has patented a technology that allows them to insert advertisements into paused content, even if the original content had no ads.
  • 🎬 The speaker argues that advertisements are often justified when content is free, but not when users have paid full price for both the television and the content.
  • 🔒 The speaker advocates for the use of ad blockers and criticizes companies for changing the terms of sale after the purchase has been made.
  • 👥 The speaker emphasizes the importance of consumer privacy and the right to use purchased content without unwanted ads or data tracking.
  • 🔑 The speaker encourages viewers to support content creators directly rather than through ad revenue, which they believe is an insufficient and intrusive form of support.
  • 🛠️ The speaker discusses the default settings on smart TVs, which often enable data collection and ad personalization, highlighting the need for users to actively opt-out of these settings.
  • 📱 The speaker expresses frustration with the industry's predatory practices and the lack of respect for user consent, urging consumers to take a stand against such practices.
  • 📢 The speaker concludes by reiterating the message that it is the consumer's moral and ethical duty to avoid advertising and protect their privacy in the face of industry overreach.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue the speaker has with the company Roku?

    -The speaker criticizes Roku for implementing a forced arbitration agreement and for their patent application that allows them to insert advertisements into paused content, which they equates to a lack of respect for consumer consent and privacy.

  • How does the speaker describe the behavior of companies that do not respect consumer consent?

    -The speaker likens such behavior to a 'rapist mentality', indicating a strong disapproval of companies that disregard consumer consent and privacy, using a strong metaphor to emphasize their exploitative practices.

  • What was the controversial advertising campaign by the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data?

    -The Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, funded by major automakers, ran a campaign in Massachusetts that falsely associated independent repairmen with criminal activities, like rape, in an attempt to sway public opinion against the right to repair legislation.

  • What is the speaker's stance on using ad blockers?

    -The speaker encourages the use of ad blockers, even though they themselves benefit from ad revenue on their YouTube channel. They believe that the negative impact of ads on the consumer experience far outweighs the minimal revenue they receive from ads.

  • Why does the speaker prefer using a Linux box instead of the default operating system on their television?

    -The speaker prefers using a Linux box to avoid the built-in spying and data collection features of default television operating systems. They value privacy and want to prevent their viewing habits and other data from being sold or used without their consent.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the moral and ethical duty of consumers in relation to advertising?

    -The speaker suggests that it is the moral and ethical duty of consumers to avoid advertising as much as possible, as a way to resist an industry that they perceive as predatory and disrespectful of consumer consent and privacy.

  • How does the speaker feel about the default settings on smart televisions regarding privacy?

    -The speaker is critical of the default settings on smart televisions, which often allow for data collection and sharing for advertising purposes. They believe the 'do not sell my personal information' option should be checked by default, rather than requiring the user to opt-in.

  • What is the speaker's view on the justification of advertisements based on the cost of content?

    -The speaker argues that the traditional justification for advertisements—free content funded by ads—does not apply when consumers have paid full price for their devices and content. They believe that companies should not insert ads into content that was purchased without them.

  • What does the speaker recommend for consumers who want to support content creators without being subjected to ads?

    -The speaker recommends that consumers find direct ways to support content creators, such as through donations or purchasing content, rather than tolerating intrusive ads that disrespect consumer consent and privacy.

  • How does the speaker describe the overall state of the advertising industry?

    -The speaker describes the advertising industry as predatory and disgusting, with companies constantly mining data from users and disregarding consent. They believe that the industry has reached a point where it is exploitative and consumers should resist it.

Outlines

00:00

🤬Criticizing Roku's Consent and Business Practices

The speaker expresses frustration with Roku's company practices, accusing them of disregarding customer consent and comparing their approach to a 'rapist mentality.' The criticism stems from a forced arbitration agreement that Roku imposed on its users, as well as a patent application that suggests inserting advertisements into paused content, even for users who have paid to avoid ads. The speaker argues that such practices are a violation of the terms of sale and customer privacy, and encourages consumers to use ad blockers as a moral and ethical duty.

05:00

🚫Defending the Use of Ad Blockers

The speaker defends the use of ad blockers, stating that despite earning a small amount from ad views on their YouTube channel, they still recommend ad blockers to their audience. They argue that the minimal revenue gained from ads does not compensate for the disruption and annoyance caused to viewers. The speaker emphasizes that paying full price for content and devices should mean not having to deal with ads, and that companies like Roku and LG are infringing on consumer consent and privacy by changing terms of sale and collecting personal data without proper consent.

10:02

😤Standing Up Against Predatory Industry Practices

The speaker calls for consumers to stand up against predatory practices in the industry, expressing concern over the excessive data mining and lack of respect for consumer consent. They argue that the industry has become too intrusive, with even high-end televisions coming with default settings that favor data collection and ad personalization. The speaker shares personal actions they've taken to avoid these practices, such as using a Linux box instead of a smart TV system, and encourages others to disconnect their televisions from the internet to protect their privacy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Consent

Consent refers to the voluntary agreement to engage in a particular activity or allow something to happen. In the context of the video, it is used to criticize companies like Roku for allegedly disregarding user consent by imposing new terms and conditions, such as forced arbitration agreements, without the user's prior approval. This is seen as a violation of the user's rights and autonomy.

💡Rapist Mentality

The term 'rapist mentality' is used metaphorically in the video to describe a perceived aggressive and exploitative behavior by companies. It suggests that these companies disregard the concept of consent and instead use manipulative tactics to make users comply with their terms, often to the detriment of the user's rights and privacy.

💡Forced Arbitration Agreement

A forced arbitration agreement is a clause in a contract that requires disputes between parties to be resolved through arbitration rather than through the court system. Critics argue that such agreements often favor the company and limit the recourse available to consumers. In the video, the speaker is critical of Roku for implementing such an agreement after the purchase of a TV, which the user did not initially agree to.

💡Customized Advertisement Insertion

Customized advertisement insertion refers to the practice of inserting targeted ads into content based on the user's viewing habits or preferences. This is often done to maximize the effectiveness of advertising by reaching the most relevant audience. In the video, the speaker criticizes a Roku patent application that would allow for ads to be inserted into content even when the original content does not contain advertisements.

💡Privacy

Privacy refers to the state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people. In the context of the video, it highlights the concern that smart devices and services may invade a user's privacy by collecting and using personal data without explicit consent. The speaker emphasizes the importance of protecting one's privacy from intrusive company practices.

💡Ad Blockers

Ad blockers are software applications that are used to prevent advertisements from being displayed on a webpage or other digital platforms. They are seen by the speaker as a tool for consumers to regain control over their online experience and protect their privacy. The video encourages the use of ad blockers as a means to resist what is perceived as predatory advertising practices.

💡Consumer Rights

Consumer rights refer to the rights of consumers to be treated fairly and to have accurate information about products and services. In the video, the speaker argues that companies are infringing on consumer rights by changing the terms of sale after the purchase and by not respecting the initial agreement made with the consumer.

💡Data Mining

Data mining is the process of extracting (mining) useful information from large datasets of data. In the context of the video, it is portrayed negatively as companies are accused of mining every piece of data from users without their consent, leading to a loss of privacy and exploitation.

💡Smart TV

A smart TV is a television set with integrated Internet connectivity and built-in apps, combining the traditional TV set with the capabilities of a computer. In the video, the speaker is critical of smart TVs, particularly their default settings that often involve data collection and the potential for non-consensual data sharing.

💡Content Ownership

Content ownership refers to the control and rights over the content one creates or purchases. The speaker emphasizes the importance of owning one's content and being able to use it without unwanted interruptions like ads or surveillance. The video argues that companies are encroaching on this ownership by inserting ads and collecting data without the user's consent.

💡Predatory Practices

Predatory practices are deceptive or aggressive strategies used to exploit consumers or gain an unfair advantage in the market. In the video, the speaker accuses companies of adopting predatory practices by disregarding user consent, altering terms of service post-purchase, and using personal data without permission.

Highlights

The speaker criticizes Roku for having a problem with the concept of consent, comparing their business practices to a 'rapist mentality'.

The speaker mentions the criticism received on Reddit and in comments for using strong language to describe certain business practices.

The speaker recounts how major automakers invested $25 million to label independent repairmen as potential sexual assaulters in an attempt to sway public opinion.

The speaker describes a situation with Roku where users were forced into a forced arbitration agreement to continue using their televisions.

Roku has a patent application for technology that can insert advertisements into paused content, even if the original content had no ads.

The speaker argues that advertisements are often justified when content is free, but not when the user has paid for the content and the device.

The speaker discusses the expectation of an ad-free experience when paying full price for television and content, and the disappointment when ads are still present.

The speaker encourages the use of ad blockers, even though they profit from ad views on their YouTube channel, because the time lost to ads is more valuable than the revenue.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of respecting consumer consent and not continuously changing the terms of a sale.

The speaker highlights the issue of smart TVs spying on users by default and the importance of avoiding such systems.

The speaker criticizes the industry for being predatory and for mining every piece of data from users without consent.

The speaker suggests that it is the consumer's moral and ethical duty to avoid advertising at all costs due to the industry's disregard for consent.

The speaker advises viewers to support content creators directly rather than through ad revenue, which they believe is predatory.

The speaker expresses frustration with the assumption that buying a cheaper product means consenting to invasive advertising and data selling practices.

The speaker shares their decision to connect a Linux desktop to their TV to avoid spying, data selling, and ads.

The speaker ends with a warning against buying products that will force unwanted ads and data selling upon the consumer.

Transcripts

00:00

hey everybody how's it going hope you're

00:01

having a lovely day because I'm about to

00:03

ruin it this is uh regarding a company

00:05

called Roku I went over them recently

00:07

they seem to have a problem with the

00:09

concept of consent uh this is something

00:10

I have gotten a lot of criticism for not

00:12

only in my comments but also on Reddit

00:15

because very often I will say that these

00:17

companies have what I like to call a

00:19

rapist mentality they take part in

00:21

practices where they don't really care

00:23

whether or not you consent they simply

00:25

want you to uh to comply anyway and very

00:28

often they will use nefarious means to

00:29

do this and one of the reasons that I

00:31

started using that phrase is because

00:33

four years ago you actually had $25

00:35

million invested by Major automakers

00:38

into the Coalition for safe and secure

00:40

data that did everything they could to

00:41

convince Massachusetts voters that

00:44

independent repair men are rapists that

00:46

we're going to follow you through a

00:46

parking lot that we're going to force

00:48

your garage door open and then force

00:50

ourselves on you and they spend quite a

00:51

bit of time in that commercial actually

00:53

claiming that the majority of the uh of

00:56

people that advocate for sexual assault

00:57

victims agreed with them that if right

00:59

to repair gets paid

01:00

that you are going to be hurt so I've

01:01

kind of tried to do this thing where I

01:03

where I turn the word around and I take

01:04

a word that has been used on us and I

01:07

rightfully so use it on them because uh

01:09

unlike uh the unlike us who actually

01:12

care about the consent of our customers

01:14

before we we take away their freedom

01:16

their privacy their right to do what

01:18

they wish with what you own often times

01:19

the manufacturer is the one doing it and

01:21

I could not think of a better example

01:23

than Roku a few weeks ago they decided

01:25

that you're not allowed to use your

01:26

television anymore unless you click

01:27

agree on a screen that forces you into a

01:30

forced arbitration agreement you you

01:32

bought the TV without the agreement but

01:34

now you can't even switch to an HDMI

01:36

input unless you accepted new terms they

01:38

held your television hostage unless you

01:40

agreed they wouldn't let you leave

01:42

unless you said yes that in my opinion

01:44

takes a rapist mentality but wait it

01:46

gets better because I said I was going

01:48

to ruin your day and I don't think I've

01:49

done it yet this is a patent application

01:51

from Roku and I'm going to summarize it

01:53

for you this is so that you could insert

01:56

advertisements in between the device

01:59

that has an HDMI output in the

02:00

television so this means that the

02:03

television will be able to detect when

02:05

you've paused content and it will be

02:06

able to insert an advertisement into

02:08

that content even if the content that

02:10

you were using the HDMI part to view had

02:12

no advertisements on because apparently

02:14

this is something that users are asking

02:16

for let's read over the pen HDMI

02:18

customized advertisement insertion when

02:20

the media device pauses the media

02:21

content the display device can determine

02:24

that a pause event has occurred and

02:26

insert an advertisement shown on the

02:28

display device further some embodiments

02:30

include determining the context and or

02:32

content of the media content that is

02:34

paused and determining an ad that is

02:36

customized at the determined context or

02:39

content displayed on the display device

02:41

okay so let's go over this

02:49

[Music]

02:58

you

03:13

okay so let's go over this

03:15

so people will very often say that

03:17

advertisements are Justified because you

03:19

did not pay for the content so if you're

03:21

viewing television via you know using an

03:24

antenna like I did back in the 90s and

03:26

you have an antenna and you have your

03:28

little vcr and you're recording it

03:29

you're not paying for that content so

03:31

the way that they monetize It Is by

03:34

having commercials or when you view

03:36

YouTube if you don't use YouTube premium

03:38

you're you're not paying for the content

03:41

you're not paying them for the hosting

03:42

you're not paying the Creator so you

03:44

become the product and they will serve

03:46

you an advertisement so that they can

03:48

get paid the argument is made that if

03:50

you're not paying for the content the

03:51

way they fund it is advertisements the

03:53

problem here is that you purchased your

03:55

television and if I paid $100 or $200

03:58

for several seasons of of a teleion show

04:00

like you know 24 heroes or something

04:02

like that the entire point of me paying

04:04

full retail price is so that I do not

04:07

have to see ads the entire reason that I

04:09

am using the HDMI input of the

04:12

television and my own content is because

04:14

I don't want to watch ads I don't want

04:16

to watch normal television with

04:17

commercials and above all I don't want

04:19

to use the garbage malware spy wear

04:21

ridden trash on your smart TV to watch

04:24

television or to watch shows that are

04:26

going to be filled with ads I don't want

04:27

the smart TV experience where I am being

04:29

spied on and advertised to so as a

04:31

result I will connect my own device to

04:34

the television the entire reason that I

04:35

connect a Linux box to my television is

04:38

because I want to avoid ads and I want

04:40

to avoid being spied on and I highly

04:42

suggest the same for you I have a

04:43

YouTube channel with 2 million

04:44

subscribers and if you watch my videos

04:46

and watch ads I make money in spite of

04:48

that on this channel many times over the

04:50

past 10 years I have suggested that the

04:52

people who watch this channel use

04:53

something like you block origin I have

04:55

something called PF Blocker on my router

04:57

I know I know OPN sense is better I

04:59

don't want to reconfigure the whole

05:00

thing from scratch point being I make

05:02

money when you watch ads and I still

05:04

suggest that you have ad blockers

05:06

installed the reason for that is that

05:07

the one 100th of a penny that I get when

05:10

you watch 50 or 200 of my videos is not

05:13

worth the amount of time that you lose

05:16

from that ad I make such a negligible

05:19

amount of money from something that is

05:21

going to cause you uh so much grief if

05:24

you actually don't skip the ad that it's

05:26

just it's just not a fair ask in my

05:28

opinion so feel free to use an ad

05:30

blocker I'm saying that from from my

05:32

perspective I encourage you to use ad

05:33

blockers the reason that I feel that

05:35

using ad block is becoming not just uh

05:38

Justified but your moral and ethical

05:40

Duty as a consumer at this point is

05:42

because the we're at a point where

05:44

paying full price for your television

05:46

and paying full price for your content

05:48

is not good enough it doesn't matter and

05:50

again this is one of the things that I

05:51

keep talking about when I say changing

05:52

the terms of the sale whether you're

05:54

talking about a company deciding that

05:56

you need to accept a forced arbitration

05:58

agreement that was not there when you

05:59

bought the product in order to use it or

06:01

we're talking about a company that says

06:03

hey I know you paid full price for your

06:05

television and I know you paid $100 just

06:08

to view this content without ads rather

06:10

than viewing a recording from

06:11

terrestrial television we're going to

06:13

seert ads into it anyway you bought it

06:15

without ads but you're going to watch it

06:16

with ads now and this is part of a

06:18

pattern that I've been going over with

06:19

many companies not respecting the

06:21

concept of consent not respecting the

06:23

concept that there were terms of a sale

06:24

that were set and that you cannot

06:26

continuously change them and let's not

06:28

even get into the fact that the entire

06:30

reason that I connect a Linux dbn

06:32

desktop to my television is that I don't

06:35

have to deal with all the spying

06:36

nonsense is that you're trying to put

06:37

that in here anyway so again the entire

06:40

reason that I do not use the operating

06:42

system that comes with my television is

06:44

because by Nature it spies on You by

06:48

default it spies on you I do not want to

06:50

hear any crap in the comments about how

06:52

well you bought a Roku TV those things

06:53

are cheap you deserve your ads or well

06:55

you're getting ads because you're using

06:56

YouTube without paying that's why you

06:58

get your ads no no no no no no no when

06:59

you buy a top-of-the-line television the

07:02

flagship LG television from a major

07:04

brand that thing costs over $3,500 an LG

07:08

G3 OLED 77 in I will show you at the end

07:11

of this video the settings that are on

07:13

by default in this piece of [ __ ] whether

07:15

it is settings related to the television

07:17

being able to see which content I'm

07:19

viewing or a little button that says do

07:22

not sell my information that by default

07:25

is turned off in a g of [ __ ] that I paid

07:28

$ 3500 $100 for that is an excuse that

07:31

people use when they want to to [ __ ] on

07:33

people this is when you have people

07:35

going oh you use Android you must be

07:36

poor oh you use a PC you must be poor oh

07:38

you drive an F-150 you should get a

07:40

Silverado oh you have a Silverado you

07:42

deserve to it to break you should have

07:43

got a Dodge R it's one of these things

07:44

that we use to just kind of fight

07:46

against each other rather than look at

07:47

the people that are actually screwing Us

07:49

in this case the entire reason that I

07:52

wish to use my dbn Linux desktop with my

07:55

television is because I don't want it to

07:57

spy on me and my television as a will

07:59

show you in the video at the end of this

08:01

my little like LG anti sponsor is that

08:04

my television is telling me in no

08:06

uncertain terms in big fond on a 77 inch

08:09

screen that it is spying on

08:12

me so I decid you know what I'm not

08:15

going to use that I'm going to connect

08:16

my own HDMI cable to my television so

08:19

that I could watch my content without

08:21

being spied on without my data being

08:23

sold by default and without ads so what

08:25

you said is you know what you don't want

08:27

to use my system you don't want to use

08:29

use my spying system you don't want to

08:31

use my ads you don't want to deal with

08:32

my trackers [ __ ] you I'm going to put

08:35

those on the HDMI inputs anyway you want

08:37

to try and plug something into this TV

08:39

I'm going to watch what you're doing you

08:41

want to plug something without ads into

08:43

this television that you actually

08:44

[ __ ] paid for suck it because I'm

08:46

going to put ads on it

08:49

anyway that that's where we're going and

08:51

again to be clear at this point it's not

08:52

even about me suggesting that you use ad

08:55

block I am suggesting that it is your

08:57

moral and ethical duty to go go out of

08:59

your way to avoid advertising at all

09:02

costs because this industry stopped

09:04

caring about consent a long time ago and

09:06

it's becoming more and more obvious as

09:08

you read patents like this and as you

09:09

see what companies are doing to be clear

09:11

again this YouTube channel it is I do

09:14

not have sponsors in this video and when

09:17

you look at the way I talk about

09:18

companies whether LG Lenovo or anybody

09:20

else it never will it just it's not

09:23

happening it's it's it's like I know

09:25

that the the only route that this

09:27

channel has to actually make money is AD

09:29

revenue and I am going out of my way to

09:32

suggest dare I say it to beg you you

09:34

block origin PF block RNG whatever the

09:37

hell the equivalent is an OPN sense go

09:39

out of your way to block every single ad

09:43

humanly possible if you like a Creator

09:45

if you like what they do if you really

09:47

want to support them find a link send

09:49

them something and to be clear you could

09:50

watch dozens of my videos I'm going to

09:52

get a fraction of a penny if you want to

09:55

support content creators if you want to

09:56

support journalists if you want to

09:57

support your actual local newspaper find

09:59

a way to pay for the content or find a

10:01

way to send them something directly but

10:03

we need to kind of start standing up

10:04

against this industry because this

10:06

entire industry is becoming just so

10:07

predatory and so disgusting to the point

10:09

where every single piece of data must be

10:11

mined from every user and like it drives

10:14

me so nuts when I read comments from

10:16

people saying you bought something cheap

10:18

you signed up for that I never [ __ ]

10:21

consented to LG selling my personal data

10:25

but they assume that I did I never

10:27

consented to a Roku television being

10:30

able to tell what I'm watching and

10:33

inject ads into my material but they

10:36

think that that's what I'm doing and

10:37

when I when I say no when I say I don't

10:39

want to use the smart system on the TV I

10:41

want to plug in my own they think it is

10:43

appropriate to tell me to go f myself

10:46

because we're going to put the ads there

10:49

anyway don't buy this [ __ ] that's it for

10:52

today and as always I hope you learned

10:54

something I'll see you all in the next

10:56

video bye now this here is an G3 OLED

11:00

television that also has cat scratchers

11:03

on the side that's my way of trying to

11:04

bribe my cat into not scratching my

11:06

speaker we we'll see if that works in

11:08

all seriousness this is in the menu of

11:10

this television if you go in this me any

11:13

one of the default profiles and you go

11:14

to privacy in terms what you'll notice

11:16

with a smart television is there's an

11:18

option called do not sell my personal

11:19

information and because we live in a

11:21

dystopian world this option is not by

11:24

default checked it should be the default

11:26

when you pay over $3,000 for a

11:28

television that you do not sell my

11:30

personal information but even when you

11:32

pay that much for a television the

11:33

default is that they will sell your

11:35

personal data which is why you should

11:36

never connect a television to the

11:38

internet particularly when these

11:40

televisions have microphones built into

11:41

them that allow them to listen to what

11:43

it is you say in your living room there

11:45

are many other settings hidden in here

11:47

that talk about being able to see what

11:49

it is you're watching or what you're

11:50

doing to be able to make recommendations

11:51

to you and personalize advertisements to

11:54

you if you browse around the television

11:55

and 100% of those options is the

11:57

consumer unfriendly option and The

11:59

Advertiser grabs your data sells it and

12:02

uses it however they please option

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Related Tags
ConsumerRightsRokuCritiqueAdvertisingIntrusionPrivacyConcernsSmartTVSpiesForcedArbitrationContentMonetizationAdBlockingAdvocacyDataMiningEthicalConsumption