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LG TVs caught spying even when offline or on standby
LG smart TVs continue to collect and transmit data about owners and their homes even when switched to standby or disconnected from the internet, according to an investigation by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus. The sets scan local Wi-Fi networks for nearby devices, log location and network details, and record microphone audio while in standby, raising significant privacy concerns for owners who may assume their TVs are inactive when not in use.
Working with Level1Techs and independent security researchers, Gamers Nexus tested retail LG OLED televisions and used packet captures to show data being sent to LG Ad Solutions, including details of nearby phones, smartwatches and Wi-Fi networks. Audio recorded during standby was found to be stored locally and uploaded once the TV reconnected to the internet. The TVs also use Automatic Content Recognition to identify content viewed through apps or connected via HDMI, a practice the investigation notes is common across most smart TV manufacturers, not unique to LG. It follows a July report from the same channel that found some LG monitors installing apps that harvested device data and served pop-up ads, which prompted Microsoft to intervene and LG to disable the ads.
In short
- LG TVs record audio and scan networks even in standby mode
- Data on nearby devices was sent to LG's advertising arm
- Follows a similar July report about LG monitor privacy issues
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A TV that scans nearby devices, captures audio in standby and uploads data later raises a serious consent and privacy concern, especially if owners reasonably believe standby means the device is inactive. Even where data collection supports advertising or product features, people should be able to understand what is collected, limit it and give informed consent; the reported findings make scrutiny of LG’s settings and disclosures reasonable.
The case against
LG and other smart TV makers may argue that data collection supports advertising, content recognition and connected features, and that some processing can occur locally before data is uploaded. The investigation’s findings warrant examination, but their significance depends on what was recorded, how it was used, what users were told and whether controls were available; those details should be established before concluding that LG deliberately violated users’ expectations or privacy.
Explained simply
A smart TV is a television that connects to the internet and can run apps. LG is a major electronics maker, and LG Ad Solutions is its advertising business. Some smart TVs use Automatic Content Recognition to identify what people watch, including content from devices plugged in through HDMI; the practice is also used by other manufacturers.
Gamers Nexus, a YouTube channel, worked with Level1Techs and security researchers to examine retail LG OLED TVs. Their investigation focused on what information the sets gathered about nearby devices and home networks, and when they sent it to LG. The findings matter because TVs are often treated as inactive when on standby, while data collection can raise questions about privacy and what owners have agreed to share.
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