LG Denies Claims That Millions of Smart TVs Record Audio in Standby
Researchers allege LG devices harvest intrusive data and store audio transcripts, potentially affecting 216 million TVs globally.
LG is facing intense scrutiny following allegations that its smart TVs engage in intrusive data harvesting, including recording ambient audio while in standby mode. The claims, brought forward by tech outlets Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs alongside independent researchers, suggest a massive privacy breach affecting millions of households.
According to the investigation, LG smart TVs record audio during hibernation or standby states and store these transcripts as plain text for subsequent upload to LG servers. The researchers also allege that the devices scan local networks for other connected hardware even when not in active use. LG's own data indicates the company has 49 million smart TVs in the U.S. and 216 million globally, meaning the potential scope of this surveillance is vast.
LG's Defense
LG has strongly pushed back against these findings. The company maintains that voice data is only recorded under two specific conditions: when a user holds the voice button on the remote or when the "Hi LG" wake word is activated. Regarding the audio processing, LG stated, "The audio is immediately deleted if the wake word is not recognised."
Additionally, LG describes the network scanning identified by researchers as a standard smart-TV function. The company asserts that this process is used solely for connectivity and device discovery, allowing the TV to interact with other smart home peripherals.
The Privacy Conflict
The investigation focused on LG's OLED sets by analyzing software and network traffic. This clash highlights a growing tension between "smart" functionality—such as Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) and device discovery—and user privacy. The concerns are amplified by the operations of LG Ad Solutions, which markets the ability to profile households based on the specific devices connected to their networks.
Why It Matters
If the researchers' claims are verified, it would represent a systemic failure of consent in the IoT ecosystem. The ability for a device to map a private network and record audio while ostensibly "off" raises critical questions about the true nature of the standby state. Beyond consumer privacy, the security implications are severe; Yash Vekaria, a researcher at UC Davis, noted the risk to high-profile users, stating, "Imagine government officials discussing national security in their hotel room [next to an] LG TV."
What's Next
While LG denies the allegations, the industry is now watching to see if independent security audits or regulatory bodies will intervene to verify the researchers' claims. The primary point of contention remains whether the recorded audio is truly ephemeral or if it is being used for unauthorized profiling and model training. For now, users are left to decide whether to trust the manufacturer's assurances or disable smart features entirely.