A Gamers Nexus video exposing LG TVs' surveillance capabilities has sparked widespread outrage, though the investigation reveals a much broader problem: every TV manufacturer tracks user data, collects viewing habits, and shares this information with partners. Consumers unknowingly agree to this data harvesting through television purchase and setup, as manufacturers have recouped lost revenues from falling TV prices by monetising user behaviour data instead. The core concerns raised in the video reflect real, industry-wide practices that most TV owners are unaware they have accepted.

Modern televisions use automatic content recognition (ACR) systems to identify everything you watch by capturing audio and video fingerprints, then sending this data to databases for analysis and targeted advertising. Manufacturers bury consent for this tracking in lengthy, confusing user agreements that employ dark patterns—such as LG's practice of automatically highlighting "Select All" when only two of six agreements are actually required to operate the TV. Walmart's 2024 acquisition of television manufacturer Vizio exemplifies how lucrative this data-selling business model has become, with companies prioritising revenue from surveillance over transparent consent practices.