Your TV Might Be Listening to You

It’s a bit unsettling to think that while you’re unwinding in front of the television, that very TV might actually be tuning into your conversations.

A recent investigation uncovered that certain smart TVs have been, well, eavesdropping—recording conversations and collecting incredibly personal data such as your location, IP address, nearby Wi-Fi networks, and even information about other connected devices.

A YouTube channel called Gamers Nexus shared a video investigation, revealing collaboration with independent researchers to demonstrate that LG televisions can listen to their owners, even when they’re supposedly switched off.

It turns out that as long as the TV is connected to the internet, its built-in microphones and cameras can pick up sounds in the room without any consent from you. And, surprisingly, disconnecting from Wi-Fi won’t stop this; saved audio clips just sit in a queue waiting to upload as soon as the connection is restored.

Most smart TV brands collect viewing data through Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) systems, but researchers pointed out that LG takes this a step further. Their ACR system can access data from any smartphones sharing the same internet connection.

So in an ordinary household, that’s quite a bit of data.

ACR systems are often enabled by default on many smart TVs to keep track of viewing habits, which is then sold to third-party advertisers.

This system collects audio and video snippets, cross-references them with media libraries, and meticulously notes what’s currently being viewed or played through speakers.

According to LG’s website, around 49 million smart TVs in the US and nearly 216 million worldwide utilize their ACR technology, which also accesses approximately 363 million additional devices like smartphones connected to the same network.

What you might not find on their site, though, is that through LG’s setup, it’s possible for investigators to pull transcripts of private conversations “overheard” by the microphones on these Smart TVs.

Interestingly, this data could even be used to inform political campaigns.

In response to these claims, an LG spokesperson told the Daily Mail that voice data is only recorded when the remote’s voice button is pressed or when a person says “Hi LG.” They firmly stated that outside of these specific instances, their TVs don’t “collect or record ambient conversations.”

The Gamers Nexus video has gone viral, amassing over 3 million views and sparking a wave of outrage online.

“LG should be sued in the EU for breaking GDPR laws,” one commenter pointed out, referencing the European law regulating how personal data can be used and stored.

Another user vented, “If LG owns my living room then PAY MY F$CKING RENT!!!”

Fortunately, if you’re concerned about this potential spying, there’s an easy way to disable the system, which takes just a few seconds:

To turn off ACR on an LG TV, go to Settings > General > System > Advanced Settings > Live Plus and switch it off.