Can you not just not connect it to the network?

I hear that some smart TVs will seek out open Wifi networks and connect to them to get updates. So now your neighbours can (probably unknowingly) connect your smart TV to the internet for you.

That must be the device equivalent of finding a house with an unlocked door and going inside to rummage around their fridge and eat their food.

Am I now legally liable for my TV stealing the neighbour's internet?

Find a cooperative neighbour and sue the manufacturer?

Is pirating media the same as shoplifting a DVD from Best Buy?

You hear that they do, or that they could?

I tried to do something similar. I didn't want to accept Google's terms of service because of all the data collection, but since I wanted to cast to my TV from my devices, I had no other choice - the TV's interface would just not let me continue

Best bet is probably to get a computer monitor.

A 65-inch computer monitor is expensive.

My 55" is much more reasonable.

I recently bought a very cheap 4K RCA tv that has zero smart features. No networking at all. There is an undocumented USB port but if you plug a USB drive into it, it can browse the file system but can't play anything. It was on the very low end of the price range for a tv of its size and resolution. Maybe that's where to look. Time will tell how well it holds up but it's lasted six months so far.