FTC: Vizio smart TVs spied on what viewers watched

Vizio admits they secretly used software to track people's TV viewing habits. Now they've agree to pay $2.2 million to settle a lawsuit with the FTC and New Jersey. TV maker Vizio is paying $2.2 million to settle charges over software on some of its smart TVs used to collect viewing data without consumers' consent. Starting in February 2014, Vizio captured information on 11 million consumer TVs about information about what viewers were watching on cable, streaming services and over-the-air broadcasts without TV owners' knowledge or consent, according to a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General. The agencies announced the settlement Monday.