LG smart TVs are almost constantly logging and uploading data about owners and their homes, scanning local Wi-Fi networks and recording microphone audio even while offline or in standby mode, according to an investigation by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus.
How LG Smart TVs Collect Data Offline and in Standby
The investigation into retail LG OLED sets, conducted alongside fellow YouTubers Level1Techs and independent security researchers, revealed packet captures showing scanning of local area networks for nearby hardware like smartphones and smartwatches. They also log location details and surrounding Wi-Fi network information, feeding this information back to LG Ad Solutions.
Most concerningly, testing showed the TVs could record microphone audio during standby mode. This recording function persisted even after researchers disconnected the TV from the internet. The captured audio files were stored locally offline and subsequently uploaded to servers once network connectivity was restored.
Did you know? Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology is used by almost every major smart TV manufacturer—not just LG—to figure out what you watch across every connected device and HDMI input.
Automatic Content Recognition and Industry-Wide Surveillance
The final piece of the data-gathering puzzle involves Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). ACR software uses audio and video sampling to identify precisely what a user is watching. According to video testing from RTINGS, this tracking technology examines applications used through the TV’s smart interface as well as external content connected via HDMI and other hardware ports. This capability is standard across nearly the entire smart TV industry.
This scrutiny is not an isolated incident for the manufacturer. In July, Gamers Nexus reported that specific LG monitors automatically installed an application that collected device data and displayed pop-up advertisements for third-party software like McAfee antivirus and LG’s own apps. Public backlash following that video prompted an intervention from Microsoft, which ultimately forced LG to disable the intrusive pop-up ads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do LG smart TVs record audio when turned off?
According to the Gamers Nexus investigation, LG smart TVs can record microphone audio while in standby mode, storing the files locally and uploading them once an internet connection is reestablished.
What is Automatic Content Recognition (ACR)?
ACR is a technology used by smart TV manufacturers—documented by testing channels like RTINGS—that samples audio and video to figure out what content a user watches across various apps and HDMI inputs.
Does data collection happen only on LG devices?
No. Security reports and independent testing indicate that ACR tracking and network scanning are widely utilized practices across almost all major smart TV brands.
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