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LG TVs Secretly Spy on Your Home, Report Claims
8 Sep
Summary
- LG TVs collect Wi-Fi data, audio logs, and viewing habits.
- Data collection continues even when TVs are offline or off.
- Smart TV manufacturers widely use viewing data collection.
Recent findings indicate that LG smart TVs are persistently recording and transmitting data about their owners and connected devices. This data collection reportedly occurs even when the television is powered off or in standby mode, according to an investigation by Gamers Nexus.
The investigation, conducted in partnership with other tech channels and security researchers, revealed that LG TVs scan local Wi-Fi networks for nearby devices. They also capture audio logs through built-in microphones and sample audio/video content to identify what is being watched.
This detailed tracking extends to Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which identifies viewing habits across all TV inputs and smart interface apps. Concerns are amplified by the discovery that microphone audio can be recorded and stored offline, then uploaded once an internet connection is re-established.
While this report focuses on LG, the use of ACR is widespread among smart TV manufacturers, as detailed in separate industry analyses. This issue follows a prior incident where LG monitors were found to install data-collecting apps and display intrusive ads.
