LG Electronics is facing a fresh privacy storm after independent researchers reported that recent LG smart TVs record audio and inventory home networks even when the screen appears off or in standby.[2][3][11] The findings come from a months-long investigation by the Gamers Nexus channel and collaborating security researchers, who tested multiple webOS-based TVs and estimated that the behavior could affect tens or even hundreds of millions of sets worldwide.[2][4][11]
In controlled tests, the team says the televisions’ built-in microphones continued capturing clear audio, generating plain-text transcripts and storing them on-device even after a voice command was processed and while the screen was dark.[1][4][11] When the internet connection was severed, those audio and text files allegedly continued to accumulate locally and were uploaded once connectivity was restored.[1][4][11] Packet capture analysis using tools such as Wireshark showed the TVs transmitting IP addresses, geolocation information, details of nearby Wi‑Fi networks—including SSIDs, signal strength and channel numbers—and an inventory of other devices on the same LAN such as phones, smartwatches, routers and IoT hardware, whether or not they were paired to the TV.[2][3][11] Gamers Nexus editor-in-chief Stephen Burke described the volume and sensitivity of the data as “an egregious invasion of privacy” and said the group had to omit some packet details from public videos because of the risk to test participants.[4][11] Researchers also claim the platform is susceptible to remote exploitation that could turn the television into a covert listening post, though technical details have been withheld while they work through responsible disclosure with security specialists.[4][8][11]
At the core of the data collection is LG’s use of Automatic Content Recognition technology, supplied by ad-tech provider Alphonso and integrated into webOS to fingerprint what appears on screen and what plays through the speakers.[11][13][15] According to LG Ads Solutions’ own privacy documentation, the software periodically samples tiny snippets of audio, hashes them into “audio signatures” on the device and sends matched signatures—along with IP addresses or device IDs—to Alphonso’s servers for ad targeting and measurement.[13] LG acquired a controlling interest in Alphonso in 2021 and now markets LG Ads Solutions as a way to “own the living room,” boasting that ACR-powered campaigns can reach 49 million LG TVs and about 363 million “addressable secondary devices” in the US alone.[11][15][13] Gamers Nexus alleges that data gathered by the televisions, including audio logs and network inventories, is ultimately funneled into this advertising pipeline to enable precision targeting across devices in the same household.[2][11][15]
LG Electronics has firmly rejected the suggestion that its smart TVs eavesdrop on ambient private conversations, insisting that voice data is processed only when a user presses the voice button or invokes far-field recognition and that wake-word detection buffers are immediately purged if no command is detected.[6][10] The company has characterized the network scanning behavior highlighted in the research as standard functionality for smart-home connectivity, saying the TVs need awareness of other devices in order to support ecosystem integration.[6] LG has previously faced similar criticism, including a widely reported 2013 case in which certain smart TVs were found to continue sending viewing data even when a “collection of watching information” setting was disabled, prompting promises of a corrective firmware update.[5][9][7] Consumer advocates have also flagged LG’s broad data collection terms, which cover information about external devices connected to the TV and warn that sensitive details spoken aloud may be captured when users interact with voice features.[10]
Privacy researchers warn that the implications go beyond living rooms, as smart TVs with microphones and ACR are routinely mounted in offices, classrooms and medical facilities where unintended recording and detailed network mapping could expose highly sensitive environments.[1][11] Gamers Nexus’ reporting coincides with regulatory scrutiny; in Texas, LG recently agreed to obtain informed consent before collecting certain types of household data, yet follow-up testing indicates that an opt-out toggle meant to satisfy the settlement ships disabled by default.[15] Industry coverage notes that shortly after the first investigation video was published, LG quietly updated its terms to add mandatory arbitration language, limiting consumers’ ability to bring privacy disputes into court.[8][15] Security blogs covering the research emphasize that, even without a publicly documented exploit chain, the combination of pervasive data collection and potential remote control makes these sets functionally closer to connected surveillance devices than passive displays.[4][8][11]
For now, privacy-conscious owners of LG TVs are being urged to review the fine print buried behind the “LG Privacy” links on product pages and within the on-device menus, where controls for ACR, viewing information and marketing preferences can be toggled.[12][14][11] Consumer Reports advises users to open Settings, navigate to All Settings → Support → Privacy & Terms, and disable features such as viewing information, voice recognition and personalized ads where possible.[14] Security experts also recommend isolating smart TVs on separate network segments, avoiding deployment in spaces where confidential discussions occur, and in high-risk cases disconnecting sets from the internet entirely until LG’s practices and any underlying vulnerabilities are more fully scrutinized.[8][11]
References
- Your LG TV may be listening: Researchers uncover audio recording and network scanning
- LG Smart TV Spying Exposed: 216M TVs, Full Breakdown | The …
- ‘We know who’s in the LG household… we own the glass’: A new report says LG TVs gather way more personal data than we feared — and comments from LG’s own execs only worsen the sense of privacy invasion
- Video Summary – 216,000,000 Spy TVs | The LG Smart TV Problem
- Information commissioner investigates LG snooping smart …
- LG Electronics Rejects Smart TV Privacy Claims Amid Security Probe
- LG says smart TV data collection will stop with firmware update
- LG Smart TV Spying: What 216M TVs Send Home (and the Fix)
- LG promises update for ‘spying’ smart TV
- LG TVs Demand Private Data in Exchange for ‘Smart’ Apps | Tom’s Guide
- LG smart TVs may log voice commands and scan homes
- privacy.us.lg.com
- Site Privacy Policy – LG Ad Solutions
- How to Turn Off Smart TV Snooping Features
- LG ships its Texas-mandated tracking opt-out switched off by default
