A new investigation has raised serious privacy questions around some LG smart TVs, with researchers reporting that tested sets were capable of collecting surprisingly detailed information about their surroundings and their owners’ viewing habits.
The investigation, carried out by Gamers Nexus alongside Level1Techs and independent security researchers, found evidence of LG televisions scanning networks for nearby devices, gathering information about viewing activity and, in testing, capturing microphone audio while the television’s screen was off.
As reported by PCMag, the findings suggest that data collection can extend beyond what viewers might reasonably associate with simply using a smart TV.
One of the more concerning findings involved the television’s microphone. Researchers reported that audio could be captured while a tested TV was in standby, with data continuing to be stored even when the television was disconnected from the internet. Once connectivity was restored, the collected information could subsequently be transmitted.
The investigation also examined Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, technology. ACR can identify what is being watched by analysing samples of audio or video, potentially covering not only content played through a television’s own apps but also material coming from devices connected through inputs such as HDMI.
LG has openly used ACR technology as part of its advertising business. The technology can provide advertisers with information about television viewing, although the latest investigation has renewed questions about how much information connected televisions can gather inside the home.
Researchers additionally found that tested televisions could identify information about other devices and networks in their surroundings, including nearby phones and smartwatches. The findings illustrate how a modern smart television can function as considerably more than a passive display once connected to a home network.
The concerns are not limited to LG. ACR technology is widely used across the smart TV industry, making privacy settings worth reviewing regardless of television brand. On compatible LG models, users can review options relating to viewing information, personalised advertising, Live Plus and voice recognition from the television’s privacy and system settings.
The investigation comes as manufacturers increasingly build advertising, content recommendations and connected services into television software, creating an ongoing trade-off between smart features and the amount of household data a television is capable of collecting.