Samsung limits screen time

© iStock/Samsung.

Samsung revealed that it can turn off its TVs remotely if the company finds that the devices have been stolen. This feature, called “TV Block”, was recently activated in South Africa after several Samsung TVs were stolen from a company warehouse. Samsung says the technology is featured on all Samsung TV products and “ensures that TVs may only be used by legitimate owners with valid proof of purchase.” The company does not say whether the feature is only intended to combat large-scale theft, or whether it will ever be used to help individual customers who are victims of a theft.

For the block to work, Samsung needs the serial number of the stolen device. When the device connects to the Internet, its serial number is checked against a list on Samsung’s servers. If there is a match, the TV automatically turns off all its features. The company says that if a South African customer feels their television is accidentally blocked, they can have it lifted by sending in their proof of purchase.

⇨ The Verge, James Vincent, “Samsung says it can remotely disable stolen TVs.”

2021-08-25