Samsung have confirmed that those who have splashed out more than $1,800 on one of its high-tech fridges may be forced to sit through unwanted commercials in their own home.
It sounds like something straight out of Black Mirror, although obviously much less twisted. However, reports started circulating earlier this month that some Samsung refrigerators were receiving updates that quietly introduced ads to the Family Hub screen.
For those unaware, that's the touchscreen on the door you use to check the weather, play music, or see what's inside without opening it.
Initially, some users believed it was a mistake or a one-time glitch. But Samsung has now confirmed it's very much intentional.
Advert
The tech giant issued the following statement: "Samsung is committed to innovation and enhancing everyday value for our home appliance customers.
"As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen that value, we are conducting a pilot program to offer promotions and curated advertisements on certain Samsung Family Hub refrigerator models in the U.S. market.
"As a part of this pilot program, Family Hub refrigerators in the US will receive an over-the-network (OTN) software update with Terms of Service (T&C) and Privacy Notice (PN). Advertising will appear on certain Family Hub refrigerator Cover Screens."
It continued: "The Cover Screen appears when a Family Hub screen is idle. Ad design format may change depending on Family Hub personalization options for the Cover Screen, and advertising will not appear when Cover Screen displays Art Mode or picture albums.
"Advertisements can be dismissed on the cover screens where ads are shown, meaning that specific ads will not appear again during the campaign period."
So, unless you're actively displaying artwork or family photos, don’t be surprised to see an ad sitting where your weather widget or calendar used to be.
While Samsung says the ads can be dismissed and won’t reappear during the same campaign period, it doesn’t look like there’s an option to turn them off entirely.
Meanwhile, over on Twitter the news hasn't gone down too well. One user blasted: "Sorry Samsung, I refuse to watch ads whilst drinking milk . . . Not buying your products - YOU LOSE !!
"On a related note, when I'm filling up my car with petrol/gas at the bowser, I am subjected to ads on the bowser's LCD screen.
"If my car needs 20 litres of gas I usually buy 21 lt . . . . 20lt for the car and 1lt to spray all over the Bowser's LCD screen."
While a second typed: "If an appliance needs an internet connection, don't get it. Security is usually one of the last things on their mind, as well as what happens when your service provider or the servers for the ad network got hacked."
"Do you really want your home network hacked due to your fridge."
With a third adding: "Yeah but I won’t connect it to wifi so who’s the loser then? Huh."
Topics: Samsung, Technology
Joe Yates