I bought a new Android TV and I noticed a lot of outbound traffic to non-YouTube and Netflix addresses from it in my router logs. it made me wonder - when I install a third-party app on my TV, can those apps tell if I watch YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and the content in it or can they only see what I do inside their own app?
Always run a privacy firewall with any Android device (or really any device or software that is not fully open source). Just about every Android app will try to connect to Facebook to share your info, among others.
Depends what Android TV interface the TV vendor uses.
As an example, this is possible on the Android TV OS - Operator Tier releases:
Android apps can have a special permission that allows them to know what you are using, access notifications, etc. Can't remember exactly the name on TV, but in my phone is under settings > apps > advanced > special access You can see what apps can access microphone, camera, etc.
Of course that any app with root permissions can also know...
But probably it's traffic from vendor apps, to check for updates or share usage statistics.
Have no proof but always assumed they do. Seems like everyone is data mining us. Also, they make recommendations based on our viewing activity.
Set up a pi hole and then monitor your logs for a few minutes while you use your TV, the number of 3rd party trackers will be evident quickly.
And this isn't an Android TV thing, every platform has the issue. Apple TV, Fire TV and especially Roku.