LG Denies Smart TV Spying Allegations Following Cybersecurity Investigation

LG Electronics has publicly denied claims that its smart televisions continuously listen to and record user conversations, responding to a technical investigation into the company's data collection practices.

The South Korean hardware manufacturer published a detailed statement on its website following an extensive 135-minute video report produced by tech outlet Gamers Nexus, as first reported by Engadget. The investigation, conducted in partnership with Level1 Techs and independent cybersecurity researchers, alleged that LG's connected displays actively gather ambient audio and network metadata under questionable operational conditions.

According to the Gamers Nexus research, LG smart TVs were alleged to capture audio recordings even when placed in low-power sleep modes or physically disconnected from a local network. The report also claimed the devices collect sensitive contextual information, including local IP addresses, geographic location data, the names of adjacent Wi-Fi networks, and details regarding nearby digital devices regardless of whether those peripheral units were explicitly paired with the television.

In its official response, LG pushed back against the allegations, arguing that recent media reporting had fostered public misconceptions regarding the underlying mechanics of its smart TV software ecosystem. The consumer electronics giant emphasized that protecting user privacy remains a core fundamental principle governing the design and operation of its hardware line up.

Addressing the primary accusation of audio surveillance, LG clarified that its smart televisions do not continuously listen to, record, or store ambient household conversations. The company stated that speech-to-text processing software routines are activated solely when a customer deliberately initiates a voice query, either by utilizing a supported voice wake-word feature or by manually pressing the designated voice control button on the television's remote control.

Furthermore, LG asserted that voice data recorded during active interactions is not saved locally to internal storage for delayed transmission once an internet connection is re-established. The company explained that offline devices simply fail to process active voice requests rather than queuing up ambient recordings for server uploads at a later time.

The manufacturer also detailed its default settings regarding automated data gathering mechanisms within its smart platform. According to LG, telemetry features such as Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), voice recognition capabilities, and interest-based ad targeting operate strictly as opt-in services. LG stated that these tracking tools remain deactivated by default during initial device configuration unless explicitly turned on by the user.

Beyond consumer privacy concerns, the original research from Gamers Nexus emphasized the potential commercial benefits of aggregating telemetry data across millions of connected displays, while simultaneously highlighting how extensive data harvesting increases exposure to security vulnerabilities and software exploits.

In response to security concerns raised by the researchers, LG acknowledged the systemic risks inherent to internet-connected hardware. The company noted that no connected consumer product can ever be rendered entirely immune to security vulnerabilities, adding that continuous threat monitoring, regular software testing, and engineering improvements remain vital across the entire lifecycle of its products.