Smart TV for All – East Midlands MEP highlights risk of internet TVs being ‘a luxury’

East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin is today calling for more accessibility and better infrastructure for ‘Smart’ TVs to make sure they are safe and available for all.

Miss McClarkin is concerned that having TVs with built-in internet raise issues around advertising and protection for minors, and is also worried that poor infrastructure could mean that internet TVs are, for some, not an option.

Miss McClarkin said:

“Connected TV is an exciting innovation. These new media platforms are already common in many homes, but we are standing at the beginning of a revolution when it comes to the developments of this software and its possibilities.

“This has a big effect on legislation meant to protect consumers, as that legislation simply didn’t envisage internet TVs. For example, rules governing TV advertising and the protection of minors do not currently apply to the internet.

“I also want to highlight that there are still large areas of the UK and Europe with poor internet infrastructure. Unless we can address these challenges, internet TV will be a luxury that can only be enjoyed by citizens living in urban areas with higher internet speeds.”