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Televisions are increasingly not just screens for watching movies and TV shows, but full-fledged devices connected to the home network. The latest investigation by Gamers Nexus and the security researchers working with them shows how wide the range of information collected by modern Smart TVs can be. In the case of LG TVs, researchers found, among other things, scanning of the local network, identification of devices on it, and collection of information about nearby Wi-Fi networks. Microphone tests caused even more controversy, as researchers say they indicate the possibility of recording and transcribing conversations even when the TV screen is off. LG responds that the conclusions presented 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 TVs. Researchers used, among other tools, Wireshark, which allows observing a device's network communication. Tests carried out on OLED TVs were intended to show that the devices can scan the local network and detect other equipment in the same environment.
Among the identified devices may be smartphones, smartwatches, or other devices connected to the home router. According to the researchers, the TV can obtain information about other devices' IP addresses and can analyze 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 is in than one might expect. It's not just information about the TV itself or the programs being watched. The device may also know what other equipment is operating on the same network.
LG, however, says that merely detecting devices on the network is not unusual. The company claims the feature is used, among other things, to provide connecting devices, content sharing, and smart home functionality. 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
Tests related to the microphone raised even more questions. Researchers say that after the voice feature is activated, the TV can capture ambient sound and convert speech to text. Under normal conditions the feature is triggered, 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 10-15 seconds after the command is given. That means the device can continue to process speech within its range during that time. It was this aspect that led researchers to examine the TV’s behavior outside normal viewing mode as well.
Gamers Nexus says it managed to record and transcribe conversations even with the TV screen off. More importantly, according to the presented tests, the device could store the collected data even without an active internet connection. After reconnecting to the network, the saved information could be sent onward.
This mechanism is particularly significant from a privacy standpoint. 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 transmitted once the connection is restored.
LG denies that its TVs secretly record conversations
The manufacturer did not leave these allegations unanswered. LG firmly denied claims that its TVs constantly record users' conversations. The company explains that voice data is processed only when the user presses and holds the appropriate button on the remote or when the TV recognizes a previously enabled wake word, such as Hi LG.
According to LG, if the wake word is not recognized, voice data is not sent to servers. The company also says that the detection of the wake word itself happens locally on the TV, and any processed data is then immediately deleted. The company therefore describes the conclusions presented in the Gamers Nexus piece as false.
That means we now have two different interpretations of the test results. The researchers say they observed behavior indicating that sound was being recorded and stored even in standby mode, while LG maintains that 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 itself but also how and when it is triggered.
Your TV may know what you're watching
A separate aspect of the whole issue is Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR. It is a technology that allows a TV to recognize the content displayed on the screen. It is not limited to apps running directly on a Smart TV. According to materials describing how ACR works, the analysis can also cover 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 collected information can then be used to build a viewing profile and to tailor ads.
It should be emphasized, however, that ACR is not a technology created 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 concrete business value for manufacturers. LG runs its own advertising business under the name LG Ad Solutions, which uses data related to Smart TV sets to create and measure advertising campaigns. On the service's official website the company currently cites a scale of about 216 million LG Smart TVs worldwide.
It is the way these data are presented to advertisers that has become a point of criticism. The LG Ad Solutions marketing materials emphasize 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 allow checking what content a user watches, but also using information about their behavior to target ads to other devices. That's why the TV becomes part of a larger advertising ecosystem, not just a screen that displays ads.
LG says ACR is optional
In the case of LG's ACR, however, the company presents the situation differently than the researchers suggest in their materials. The company 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 personalized recommendations, services, and ads.
LG also says that if the user does not accept the relevant optional consent, ACR data will not be used for advertising purposes. This is an important qualification, because it means some personalization features can, according to the manufacturer, be turned off during TV setup.
However, user awareness remains a problem. A Smart TV presents many terms, consents, and privacy settings during setup. In practice, many people rush through this process to start using the device as quickly as possible. As a result, some users may not be aware of what information is associated with each feature.
The TV can become a hub of information about the whole home
The most controversial aspect stems from the combination of all these technologies. ACR itself means analyzing the content being watched. Network scanning may be needed for communication between devices. A microphone, on the other hand, can be used to handle voice commands.
The problem starts when all of these elements operate at the same time. The TV can then obtain information about what the user watches, which devices are in their home, and when they use voice features. It is precisely this combination of data that makes Smart TV a far more valuable source of information for advertisers than a traditional television.
LG Ad Solutions officially emphasizes 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.
However, that does not automatically mean that every LG TV owner is constantly and secretly being watched in the way suggested by the most alarmist headlines. Some of Gamers Nexus's claims are disputed by LG, and ACR and voice features, according to the manufacturer, are supposed to operate in accordance with the user's specified consents. So it's worth separating confirmed features from interpretations of the test results.
The problem is not limited to LG
There is also a broader context to the whole matter. ACR is not unique to LG. Automatic content recognition technology is used by many Smart TV manufacturers, and its purpose includes identifying the content being watched and using that information to personalize services and advertising.
That is why the current investigation can be seen as another example of a larger privacy issue affecting internet-connected devices. Televisions are gaining more and more features, but at the same time increasingly require access to data that previously wasn't necessary for normal TV viewing.
Gamers Nexus also notes that the problem may extend beyond 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, among other things, in the scope of information 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 can first check the privacy settings and features related to ACR. It’s also worth carefully reviewing the consents shown during the device’s 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 recommends using an external media player as an alternative to the built-in Smart TV platform. The TV can then serve mainly as a screen, while apps and streaming functions are handled by the additional device.
When it comes to software updates the situation is a bit more complicated, because disconnecting the TV from the internet means you 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 the privacy settings, turn off unnecessary tracking features, and check which consents relate to ACR and ads.
216 million LG TVs in users' homes
The scale of the issue is large. LG reports that roughly 216 million of the brand's Smart TVs are in use worldwide. That means a potentially huge number of devices could be using features related to content recognition, network communication, and advertising services.
Of course, that doesn't mean all of those TVs are used in the same way. The scope of data collected depends, among other things, on the model, software version, device configuration, and the consents accepted by the user. Still, the investigation by Gamers Nexus shows it's worth taking a closer look at what happens on devices we treat most of the time as ordinary television sets. After all, today's Smart TV is a computer connected to the Internet, equipped with a microphone, an operating system, apps, and access to the home network.
The TV is no longer just a screen
This whole issue shows how much the role of the TV has changed. Just a decade or so ago the device was mainly used to receive a television signal. Today it can simultaneously analyze watched content, communicate with other devices, access the internet, display ads, and respond to voice commands.
The biggest controversies around LG concern the scale of that ecosystem. Researchers say TVs can collect information about the surroundings, devices on the network, and ambient room audio, while LG denies that the devices secretly record users’ conversations. The company also emphasizes that network scanning is a standard function needed for device-to-device communication, and that ACR is intended to be an optional feature.
For now, the key takeaway for owners of LG TVs is not so much the need to immediately get rid of the device as it is an awareness of how its Smart TV layer works. Privacy-conscious users can limit the TV’s access to the internet, disable ACR features, and thoroughly review the data and voice settings.
The investigation by Gamers Nexus revealed a number of controversial behaviors attributed to LG TVs, including scanning the home network, identifying other devices, and logging data about 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 its TVs secretly record conversations. The manufacturer also says that network scanning supports Smart TV functions, and that ACR is optional and requires user consent for using the data for advertising. At the same time, the scale of LG Ad Solutions shows how valuable data from Smart TV sets can be for the advertising industry. The case serves as a reminder that a modern TV is essentially an internet-connected computer, and privacy settings matter far more than they might seem.
source: Gamers Nexus, flatpanelshd
