Do Sharp TVs Have Cameras?

Sharp is a well-known brand worldwide for its innovative devices ranging from smartphones to LCD calculators to different models of smart TVs. With its numerous features like split-screen viewing, streaming abilities, Bluetooth, smart home adaptability, and so on, you may be asking if Sharp TVs have cameras?

Depending on the Sharp TV model you’re using, it can either have a camera or not. Most newer Sharp TV models, due to privacy reasons, do not come with cameras. However, almost all the models are fitted with in-built microphones on the TV and the remote. If you are unsure if your Sharp TV model has a camera, check the owner’s manual to find out.

The camera on your Sharp TV is usually located on the top center of your TV frame or the bottom part, depending on the model. Unfortunately, while this feature is an impressive technological advancement, it could also create room for security breaches. In this article, you’ll find out more about your Sharp TV camera, what it watches, how to stop it from watching you, and more.

What Does the Sharp TV Camera Do?

If your Sharp TV has a camera, its main objective is to perform functions such as collecting information about the shows and content you watch on your TV through its surveillance system known as the Automatic Content Recognition (ACR).

The ACR incorporates the camera and the microphone to collect this information about the content you watch. The camera on your TV also helps with facial recognition, video chat, gestures, and many other features.

This data collection only happens if your Sharp TV is connected to the internet, and it helps to make your viewing experience better. Your TV camera can recommend movies for you just by seeing your gestures or facial expression.

Can Your Sharp TV Be Spying on You?

We know that cameras can see things, so you may be wondering if the camera on your TV is secretly spying on you.

If your TV has a camera, the chances are that it is spying on you, but not in a creepy way though. The ACR feature on your TV makes it easy to collect information about your preferences and viewing habits for marketing activities. 

It shares such data as your IP address, social standard, age, and even location with advertisers, and this can make you a target for personalized adverts on your smart TV, phones, and laptops. 

In light of this, this feature can also expose you to being hacked by cybercriminals who get into your WiFi and use it to hack your Sharp TV, smart home, and even mobile phones. Setting up a reliable and strong WiFi network can protect your TV from being hacked, especially if other devices and gadgets are connected to the same WiFi.

Here’s a quick way to tell if your smart TV has a camera, as well as a hidden way it could be listening in on you:

How to Stop Your TV Camera From Spying

Thanks to the possibility of preventing your camera from spying on you, you can decide to shut the feature down and use your Sharp TV like a regular TV without having to worry about what it sees and takes.

To successfully delete this feature, you must first disable the ACR feature, the microphones, and the cameras. Read on to find out how to do it.

Disabling the ACR Feature

To prevent having your viewing patterns and preferences shared by the Sharp TV manufacturers to advertisers who in turn target you for advertising their products and services, there are steps to disabling it.

There are some steps you need to take to dismantle the ACR:

1. Go to the Main Menu on your Sharp TV.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Click on Support and select Terms and Policies.
4. You’ll see the Viewing Information Services; Turn it off.

If you would like to learn more about Sharp TVs, check out this article.

Disabling the Camera and the Voice Recording Feature

Preventing access to your TV by hackers and manufacturers does not end at disabling the ACR feature. If you do not have strong WiFi security, these hackers can get into any of your devices connected to the network and hack it from there. 

If you want to disable the voice recording feature:

1. Go to the Home Menu on your TV.
2. Go to Settings and navigate to Expert Settings.
3. Then turn off the Voice Interaction feature.

Disabling the camera and voice recording feature will go a long way in limiting these activities. To disable the camera, one simple thing to do is to put black tape over the camera or turn it faced down if your Sharp TV has a retractable camera.

Conclusion

Owning a Sharp smart TV guarantees you all the fun and features of what a smart TV has to offer. Depending on the model you have, these TVs can come equipped with cameras to offer more features like gesture reading, video calls, and general improvement of your viewing experience.

This article shows you what the camera on your TV is meant for, how it can be used to breach your security by hackers, and how you can prevent that from happening. Hopefully, this piece will be as informative as it is educational.