Does your TV track you even through the HDMI port? Short answer: Yes

This article outlines how smart TVs track viewing habits through HDMI-CEC metadata and Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), and provides practical steps to reduce tracking: disable ACR (brand-specific menu paths provided), turn off HDMI-CEC, use a CEC-less adapter to block control signals, and consider disconnecting from the internet or using a VPN; it also notes potential feature impacts and the need to recheck settings after firmware updates.