Following an investigation into data collection practices, LG defends its webOS smart TVs against claims of secretive listening and network scanning, amid ongoing concerns over user privacy and device tracking.
LG has pushed back against claims that its smart televisions are quietly harvesting far more information than users realise, after a technical investigation by Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs drew attention to data collection, network scanning and voice-processing features on the company’s webOS sets. According to The Verge, the Korean manufacturer said its TVs do not continuously record or transmit conversations, and argued that the key functions in question require user permission.
The dispute has centred on what LG means by “continuous” listening. In its response, the company said wake-word recognition for its voice assistant is handled locally on the television itself. Critics say that does not fully answer the concerns raised in the investigation, which alleged that sets could still keep detailed conversation logs after a voice assistant should have stopped listening.
LG also said that automatic content recognition, voice control and personalised advertising are not enabled by default. The company described its ACR system as generating audio fingerprints through an on-board processor rather than recording voice, video or images. But privacy specialists cited by The Verge said the reply leaves open broader questions about how much data is collected, where it goes, and whether users can genuinely understand the settings they are asked to accept.
The investigation, which the report said has attracted millions of views online, alleged that retail OLED models tested with independent security researchers scanned local networks, identified nearby devices and gathered information about surrounding Wi-Fi connections. It also claimed that audio could be stored locally while a set was offline and uploaded later when connectivity returned. The researchers further argued that LG’s ACR technology can identify content played not only through smart TV apps, but also from HDMI and other external inputs.
The controversy has also revived scrutiny of LG’s wider approach to advertising and device tracking. Gamers Nexus pointed to LG Ad Solutions’ emphasis on “owning the glass”, a phrase the researchers said reflects an ambition to follow activity across televisions, phones and other household devices. LG has not directly addressed every concern, including the size of the data set, the third parties that may receive it, or whether the privacy controls are easy enough for ordinary users to navigate. The episode comes after earlier criticism of LG monitors that reportedly installed software and displayed advertising, a dispute that ended with the company disabling pop-up ads after public backlash.
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