LG accused of 'egregious invasion of privacy' after researchers say smart TVs collect audio and network data

The useful part

The latest concerns center on smart TVs that researchers claim continued capturing audio after voice recognition was activated, including while the display was in standby. REG AD The Gamers Nexus crew said it observed the TV collecting IP addresses, location data, and the names, signal strengths, and channel numbers of nearby Wi-Fi networks. The TV also enumerated devices on the local network that were not paired with it, including smartphones, watches, routers, thermostats, air purifiers, server baseboard management controllers, and PCs.

How it works

• Burke said the team was working with security researchers to disclose vulnerabilities responsibly, including an alleged remote code execution flaw.
• LG previously told other publications that its TVs do not "collect, record, or store ambient conversations," and that voice recognition is an optional feature that processes voice data only when activated...
• LG said the ACR data was anonymized and handled in accordance with privacy regulations.
• Most major smart TV manufacturers deploy some form of ACR in their hardware, although the controls available to users vary by vendor.
• The source of so much frustration, however, is that manufacturers are not forthcoming with consumers at the point of purchase about the extent to which their data is collected or how.

What to take from it

Its advertising customers could use the resulting insights to measure campaign effectiveness and whether an ad led to registrations for an app or service. Generating audio transcripts while the display is in standby is not something LG highlights in its product descriptions or marketing materials. From there, they must sift through four links to understand its privacy policies more fully, although neither the documents nor the main product page references LG Ads Solutions.

Example or evidence

• Research suggests that many consumers are willing to trade their data for tangible financial savings, but the privacy implications are compounded when you consider these devices can be found mounted in...
• LG told us: "LG Electronics reiterates that McAfee is not installed automatically and is never installed without the user's explicit consent." ® Updated on September 9th to add: LG responded to the Gamers...
• As we reported at the time, the LG Monitor App Installer has limited utility and displayed pop-up promotions for McAfee.
• LG TVs process voice data only when the voice button on the remote control is pressed and held, or when a wake word such as 'Hi LG' is recognized after the user has activated the Far-Field voice recognition...

Details worth keeping

In 2022, it announced that automatic content recognition (ACR) technology previously limited to its US smart TVs would be deployed in sets sold across 27 countries, with the resulting insights available through its advertising business. According to Gamers Nexus, however, that is what its testing uncovered. Instead, the company's website describes its TVs' voice features using terms such as "Intelligent Voice Recognition" and "Clear Voice Pro." Customers who go digging for more details must navigate to an "LG Privacy" link most of the way down a lengthy product page.

Related coverage

• Theverge: Earlier this week, Gamers Nexus, Level1Techs, and independent security researchers detailed some alarming findings about how LG's TVs are logging and uploading data on its users.
• Aljazeera: Recent accusations against the electronics company have raised new questions about the nonconsensual data it harvests.
• Theverge: Nexus claiming LG TVs are nefariously spying on everything you do.
• Theblaze: If you own an LG smart TV, there's something you need to know: It could be spying on you — even when it is turned off.
• Mobilesyrup: LG TVs are eavesdropping on you even when seemingly turned off, according to a report by YouTubers Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs.