LG Electronics has officially denied allegations that its smart TVs continuously record and upload user data, including audio, while in standby mode. The company responded to a two-hour video by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, which claimed that LG has 216 million 'spy TVs' that collect audio logs and scan Wi-Fi networks to identify viewed content.
The accusations were based on research by security experts MrBruh and uturn, who used packet capture and firmware analysis. They reported that LG TVs can identify other devices on the local network, such as phones and printers, and claimed that microphones remain active even when the TV is turned off, storing data offline for later transmission.
LG clarified that voice data is only processed when a user holds the voice button on the remote or when the 'Hi LG' wake word is detected after the user manually enables far-field voice recognition. The company stated that audio processing for the wake word occurs locally on the device and is immediately deleted if no wake word is detected, with no data sent to servers.
The company admitted that its smart TVs scan for other devices on the same network, but described this as a standard feature for smart TVs and smart home devices. Additionally, LG noted that Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is an optional feature that requires user consent for personalized recommendations and targeted advertising.