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The television is increasingly not just a screen for watching films and series, but a fully fledged device connected to the home network. The latest investigation by Gamers Nexus and collaborating security researchers, however, shows just how broad the range of information gathered by modern Smart TV can be. In the case of LG televisions, the researchers detected, among other things, scanning of the local network, identifying devices on it and collecting information about nearby Wi‑Fi networks. Microphone tests caused even greater controversy, which, according to the researchers, point to the possibility of recording and transcribing conversations even when the TV screen is turned off. LG replies that the findings are untrue and insists that voice is processed only in specific situations.
LG TVs can scan the home network
One of the key elements of the investigation is the analysis of network traffic from LG televisions. Researchers used tools including Wireshark, which allows observation of a device's communications on the network. Tests carried out on OLED TVs indicated that the devices can scan the local network and detect other equipment in the same environment.
Identified devices can include smartphones, smartwatches and other devices connected to the home router. According to the researchers, the TV can obtain IP addresses of other devices and also analyse surrounding wireless networks. Collected information includes nearby Wi‑Fi network names, their signal strength and channel numbers.
From a user's point of view, this means the TV may have a much broader awareness of the environment it's in than might be expected. It's not just information about the TV itself or the programmes being watched. The device may also know what other equipment is operating on the same network.
LG insists, however, that simply detecting devices on the network is not unusual. The company says the feature is used, among other things, to enable device pairing, content sharing and support for smart home functions. According to the manufacturer, this is a standard feature also found in other Smart TV sets and smart home devices.
The biggest controversy concerns the microphone
Even more questions were raised by tests related to the microphone. Researchers say that after activating the voice feature the TV can capture ambient sound and convert speech to text. Under normal conditions the function is activated, among other ways, by the voice command “Hi LG” or by using the voice button on the remote.
According to the tests, the so‑called listening window can remain active for about 10 to 15 seconds after the command is given. That means the device may continue to process speech within its range during that time. It was this element that led researchers to check the TV’s behaviour outside normal viewing mode as well.
Gamers Nexus claims it was able to record and transcribe conversations even with the TV screen turned off. More importantly, according to the tests presented, the device could store the collected data even without an active internet connection. Once reconnected, the saved information could be sent on.
This mechanism is particularly important from a privacy point of view. Simply disconnecting the TV from the internet does not necessarily mean the device immediately stops collecting data. If information remains stored locally, it may only be transferred once a connection is re-established.
LG denies TVs are secretly recording conversations The manufacturer did not leave the allegations unaddressed. LG has strongly denied claims that its TVs are constantly recording users' conversations. The company explains that voice data is processed only when the user holds down the appropriate button on the remote or when the TV recognises a previously activated wake word, such as "Hi LG". According to LG, if the wake word is not recognised, voice data is not sent to servers. The manufacturer also says that the wake-word detection itself happens locally on the TV and that any processed data is then immediately deleted. The company therefore describes the conclusions presented in the Gamers Nexus piece as untrue. This means we currently have two different interpretations of the test results. The researchers say they observed behaviour suggesting audio was being recorded and stored even in standby mode, while LG maintains that the TVs do not record ambient conversations except in situations where the voice feature has been activated. The dispute therefore concerns not only the existence of the feature but also how and when it is triggered.
Your TV might know what you're watching
A separate element of the whole matter is Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR. It is a technology that allows the TV to recognise the content shown on the screen. It is not limited only to apps running directly on the Smart TV. According to materials about how the ACR system works, the analysis may also include content coming from devices connected via HDMI and other inputs.
In practice, this means the TV may be able to determine what a user is watching regardless of whether they're using the TV's apps, a set-top box, a console or another video source. The information collected can then be used to build a viewing profile and to tailor ads.
It should be emphasised, however, that ACR was not developed solely by LG. Similar solutions are used by many Smart TV manufacturers and for years have been part of the business model of modern televisions. The difference in the current investigation lies in the scale of information researchers attribute to LG's ecosystem. It may involve not only knowledge of what is displayed on the screen, but also information about devices present in the household.
LG also uses data in advertising
Collecting data has specific business value for manufacturers. LG runs its own advertising business called LG Ad Solutions, which uses data related to Smart TV sets to create and measure advertising campaigns. On the service's official site the company currently states a scale of around 216 million LG Smart TV sets worldwide.
It is the way this data is presented to advertisers that has become a point of criticism. Marketing materials from LG Ad Solutions emphasise the ability to link TV viewing information with other devices in the household. In one piece of material company representatives described the system's capabilities with the slogan “we own the glass”, referring to the TV as a source of user data.
From an advertiser's perspective such data can be very valuable. They not only let advertisers see what content a user watches, but also allow the use of information about their behaviour to target ads on other devices. That is why the TV becomes part of a larger advertising ecosystem, not just a screen showing ads.
LG says ACR is optional
In the case of LG's ACR, however, the company presents the situation differently than researchers suggest in their materials. The firm says the automatic content recognition feature is offered on an opt-in basis. According to the manufacturer, the user can decide whether to share ACR data to receive personalised recommendations, services and ads.
LG also assures that if the user does not accept the relevant optional consent, ACR data will not be used for advertising purposes. That is an important caveat, because it means some personalisation features can, the manufacturer says, be turned off during TV setup.
The problem remains user awareness. Smart TV presents many terms, consents and privacy settings during setup. In practice, many people go through this process quickly to start using the device as soon as possible. As a result, some users may not realise what information is linked to each feature.
The TV can become the information centre for your entire home
The most controversial aspect stems from combining all these technologies. ACR (automatic content recognition) on its own means analysing the content being watched. Network scanning alone may be required for device-to-device communication functions. The microphone, meanwhile, can be used to handle voice commands.
The problem begins when all these elements operate at the same time. The TV can then obtain information about what the user is watching, what devices are in their home and when they use voice features. It is precisely this combination of data that makes a Smart TV a far more valuable source of information for advertisers than a traditional television.
LG Ad Solutions officially emphasises the possibility of using ACR data and combining it with other information to target ads and measure their effectiveness. The company markets its platform as a solution covering multiple devices and viewing channels.
That does not automatically mean every LG TV owner is constantly and secretly being observed in the way suggested by the most alarmist headlines. Some of Gamers Nexus's claims are disputed by LG, and ACR and voice features, the company says, are intended to operate only according to the user's specified consents. It is therefore worth separating confirmed capabilities from interpretations of test results.
The problem isn't limited to LG
There is also a broader context to the whole issue. ACR is not a solution unique to LG. Automatic content recognition technology is used by many Smart TV manufacturers, and its purpose includes identifying what is being watched and using that information to personalise services and advertising.
That is why the current investigation can be seen as another example of a wider privacy problem with internet-connected devices. TVs are gaining more features, but at the same time increasingly require access to data that previously wasn't needed for ordinary TV viewing.
Gamers Nexus also points out that the problem may be broader than a single manufacturer. The mere fact that other companies use similar technologies does not mean they all operate in exactly the same way. They can differ in the scope of data collected, default settings and how user consent is obtained.
What to do if you care about privacy?
People who want to limit the amount of data collected by their TV should first check the privacy settings and features related to ACR. It’s also worth carefully reviewing the consent prompts shown during the initial setup and not automatically accepting all optional features.
An even more effective solution is to completely disconnect the TV from the internet. Gamers Nexus recommend using an external media player as an alternative to the built‑in Smart TV platform. The TV can then act mainly as a screen, while app and streaming functions are handled by the additional device.
With software updates the situation is a bit more complicated, because disconnecting the TV from the internet means you’ll need to use an alternative update method. However, not every user has to give up Smart TV features entirely. For most people, a sensible first step is to review privacy settings, turn off unnecessary tracking features and check which permissions relate to ACR and ads.
216 million LG televisions in users' homes
The scale of the issue is significant. LG says that globally around 216 million of the brand's Smart TV sets are in operation. This means a potentially huge number of devices could be using features related to content recognition, network communications and advertising services.
Of course, that doesn't mean all these TVs are used in exactly the same way. The scope of data collected depends, among other things, on the model, software version, device configuration and the consents given by the user. Still, an investigation by Gamers Nexus shows it's worth taking a closer look at what goes on inside devices we mostly treat as ordinary televisions. Today's Smart TV is, after all, a computer connected to the internet, with a microphone, an operating system, apps and access to the home network.
The TV is no longer just a screen
The whole issue shows how much the role of the television has changed. Just over a decade ago the device was mainly used to receive broadcast TV. Today it can simultaneously analyse viewed content, communicate with other devices, use the internet, display ads and respond to voice commands.
The biggest controversies around LG concern the scale of that ecosystem. Researchers claim that TVs can collect information about their surroundings, devices on the network and room audio, while LG denies that devices secretly record users' conversations. The company also emphasises that network scanning is a standard function required for communication between devices, and that ACR is intended to be an optional feature.
For now the most important takeaway for owners of LG televisions is not so much the need to immediately get rid of the device as an awareness of how its Smart TV layer works. Privacy-conscious users can limit the TV's internet access, disable ACR features and carefully review the settings related to data and voice.
The investigation by Gamers Nexus revealed a number of controversial behaviours attributed to LG TVs, including scanning the home network, identifying other devices and recording data related to viewed content. The most serious allegations concern the ability to capture and store audio even with the screen turned off, although LG strongly denies that the TVs secretly record conversations. The manufacturer also says network scanning is used for Smart TV features, and ACR is optional and requires user consent for using data for advertising. At the same time, the scale of LG Ad Solutions' business shows how valuable data from Smart TVs can be to the advertising industry. The case serves as a reminder that a modern television is effectively a computer connected to the internet, and privacy settings matter far more than they might seem.
source: Gamers Nexus, flatpanelshd
