While you’re watching TV, someone might be watching you.
A recent investigation reveals that some smart TVs have reportedly been eavesdropping on conversations, recording them and gathering shockingly personal data—including location, IP address, nearby Wi-Fi networks and even other connected devices.
YouTube channel Gamers Nexus posted an investigative video with Level1Techs, claiming that they worked with independent researchers to prove LG television sets can listen in on its owners — even when the TVs are off.
The findings show as long as the TV is connected to the internet, its built-in microphones and webcams can capture room audio without permission. Killing your Wi-Fi connection won’t help, since saved audio files simply queue up and upload the moment the internet boots back up.
While many TV brands track viewing data for Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) systems, researchers say LG goes far beyond standard data collection. Their ACR system grants them access to any smartphone data that shares an internet hub.
And in a normal home? That’s all of it.
ACR systems come enabled by default on many smart TVs, logging viewing habits to sell to third-party advertisers.
The ACR system grabs audio and video snippets, cross-references them against media libraries and tracks exactly what plays on screen or through speakers.
According to LG’s website, its ACR technology reaches 49 million smart TVs in the US and nearly 216 million globally. It also grants LG access to roughly 363 million secondary devices, such as smartphones linked to the same Wi-Fi network.
What the website won’t tell you is that through LG’s setup, investigators could extract transcripts of private conversations “overheard” by the Smart TV’s microphones.
Notably, the data can be used for political campaigns.
An LG spokesperson denied the claims to the Daily Mail, insisting voice data is only processed when the remote’s voice button is pressed, or when a user says “Hi LG.” Outside of those triggers, LG insists that its TVs do not “collect or record ambient conversations.”
The Gamers Nexus expose has racked up over 3 million views and provoked outraged reactions across social media.
“LG should be sued in the EU for breaking GDPR laws,” one YouTube commenter, referencing an EU law that controls how organizations can use, collect and store personal data.
“If LG owns my living room then PAY MY F$CKING RENT!!!” another fumed.
Fortunately, there’s a simple way to prevent this alleged spy system and it takes about five seconds:
To disable ACR on an LG TV, navigate to Settings > General > System > Advanced Settings > Live Plus and toggle it off.
