Are LG smart TVs spying on users? The company’s official response

An investigation published by the YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, conducted together with security researchers MrBruh and uturn, has raised serious concerns about the privacy of LG smart TVs, going as far as describing devices capable of recording the surrounding environment and storing data even when the TV is turned off or offline.

The company’s response did not take long to arrive: LG has answered point by point, deeming the main concerns raised unfounded.

LG smart TV spying: what Gamers Nexus investigation claims

According to the investigation, based on analyses of network packets and the devices’ firmware, LG smart TVs would constantly collect and upload user data, would be able to record audio even in standby mode, would scan local Wi-Fi networks to identify other connected devices (such as smartphones and printers), and would locally store the collected data even offline, to be retrieved later.

The investigation also cites a figure of 216 million: this would be an overblown number of spying TVs in circulation, according to the report.

LG’s response, point by point

LG has responded with a detailed statement, arguing that their televisions process voice data only in two circumstances: when the user holds down the dedicated button on the remote, or when the remote voice recognition feature is activated voluntarily and recognizes the keyword Hi LG.

Beyond these two cases, according to the company, the microphones do not record ambient conversations. The company also specifies that the keyword processing occurs entirely on the device and that the audio is immediately deleted if the keyword is not recognized, even in standby mode.

Regarding the local network scanning, LG explains that it is a standard feature, common to smart TVs and smart home devices, necessary to enable connectivity, content sharing, and home automation functions.

Regarding the automatic content recognition (ACR), LG states that it is an optional feature that requires the user’s explicit consent and can be disabled at any time; according to the company, data collected via ACR is not used for advertising purposes without explicit authorization.

LG also adds that it constantly monitors the security of its platform, also in collaboration with external experts.

An ongoing matter, with no independent verification

It should be noted that neither version, nor the Gamers Nexus investigation’s allegations nor LG’s counterstatements, have yet been independently verified by third parties. The issue remains open pending any further developments or official actions from either side.