LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices
Published by Notebookcheck
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Claims made
Every claim in this document. Firsthand = asserted on its own basis; secondhand = recounted from elsewhere, carrying no independent weight.
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webOS logs user voice prompts in plain text.
Testing revealed webOS logging user voice prompts in plain text.
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LG smart TVs sweep local networks to map phones and nearby devices.
An investigation by Gamers Nexus found LG smart TVs sweep local networks to map phones and nearby devices.
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Tests also showed the sets can capture microphone audio with the screen off — they then upload data once reconnected to the internet.
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LG smart TVs continuously sweep home networks, map secondary devices, and log microphone audio while appearing to be turned off, according to a new 135‑minute‑long video published by Gamers Nexus (see below).
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Steve worked with Level1Techs and independent security researchers.
In more detail, Steve had been working with Level1Techs and independent security researchers.
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The researchers tested retail LG OLED G5 models.
Together, they tested retail LG OLED models including the G5.
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Network packet captures taken through Wireshark showed the TVs actively scanning the local area network for unrelated hardware, including phones and smartwatches.
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Apart from internal IP addresses, the sets also gathered the names and signal strengths of neighboring Wi‑Fi networks along with location data.
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The data collection pool is fed into LG Ad Solutions.
This data collection pool is fed into into LG Ad Solutions (the company’s targeted advertising arm).
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LG claims it has roughly 216 million smart TV sales globally.
LG claims they have roughly 216 million smart TV sales globally.
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LG Ad Solutions says it has access to 363 million secondary addressable devices in the US alone.
On the other hand, the ad division says it has access to 363 million secondary addressable devices in the US alone by tracking other hardware on the same network.
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The sets run Automated Content Recognition (ACR).
The sets also run Automated Content Recognition (ACR).
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New testing shows the data collection goes much further than just ACR.
While ACR has been well documented in the past, new testing shows the data collection goes much further than just that.
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During bench tests, they found the TV could capture clean microphone audio while the screen was (or at least looked to be) powered down in standby mode.
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When the team disconnected the TV from Ethernet, the set continued saving voice input locally and uploaded the stored files once network access was restored.
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The researchers also documented remote code execution vulnerabilities in webOS that are currently moving through the responsible disclosure process.
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Because of the fact that the TV uses broad network listeners and data sweeps out of the box, the team's recommendation was straight‑up disconnecting LG sets from the internet and using external streaming devices instead.
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LG has not commented on any of this as of writing.
LG has not commented on any of this as of writing.
No claims match this filter.
Where it collides
6 claims in this document contradict another account. Collision is shown as structure — it never edits a belief, it makes the disagreement legible.
- LG has not commented on any of this as of writing.
collides with LG TVs do not collect or record ambient conversations. · LG strongly denies TV spying claims, says tracking and snooping concerns 'not true' — online investigation claims 216,000,000 TVs spy and record audio
- LG has not commented on any of this as of writing.
collides with LG TVs monitor for the Hi LG wake word while in standby mode, and if the wake word is not detected, the audio is processed locally and then deleted. · LG strongly denies TV spying claims, says tracking and snooping concerns 'not true' — online investigation claims 216,000,000 TVs spy and record audio
- LG has not commented on any of this as of writing.
collides with LG said that Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), voice recognition, and interest-based advertising are optional and not enabled by default. · LG responds to TV spying allegations
- LG has not commented on any of this as of writing.
collides with LG says we are fake news · LG Says We're Fake News
- LG smart TVs can capture microphone audio with the screen off and upload data once reconnected to the internet.
collides with Automatic Content Recognition uses audio fingerprinting via the TV’s internal audio processor to identify content and does not collect screenshots, screen recordings, video recordings, voice recordings, or other audio recordings from the TV. · LG responds to TV spying allegations
- LG smart TVs continuously sweep home networks, map secondary devices, and log microphone audio while appearing to be turned off.
collides with Automatic Content Recognition uses audio fingerprinting via the TV’s internal audio processor to identify content and does not collect screenshots, screen recordings, video recordings, voice recordings, or other audio recordings from the TV. · LG responds to TV spying allegations
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