LG is no stranger to being in the hot seat. This past year, the company faced controversy after automatically installing a Microsoft Copilot shortcut on all of its smart TVs with no way to remove it, something LG eventually corrected after facing immense backlash. Now, LG is back in the hot seat, but this time over allegations that its TVs are spying on users.
It all stems from an over two-hour-long video report from YouTuber Gamers Nexus, who, working with Levels1Tech and other independent security researchers, presented evidence that LG TVs were capturing audio recordings even when the TV was asleep or disconnected from the internet. The researchers also found that LG TVs were scanning for and collecting sensitive data about nearby Wi-Fi networks, even when those networks weren’t connected to the TV.
Now, LG has issued a lengthy statement refuting these allegations and attempting to clarify how its Automatic Content Recognition ( ACR) feature works, which it says “is turned off by default.” However, many users may have enabled it by accident.
LG responds to “misconceptions” about its TVs
The company says its TVs do not “continuously” record your conversations
In a statement to Pocket-lint, LG says the claims made in the Gamers Nexus video “are not true” and that its smart TVs “do not collect or record ambient conversations.”
In a longer statement posted to its website, the company says speech-to-text processing on its TVs only starts when the user “activates a voice interaction through a supported wake-word feature or by pressing the voice (or AI) button on the remote control.” LG also added that speech recording results “are not uploaded later when the TV is offline or when connectivity is restored.”
As for the scanning of local networks, LG says its TVs “feature the ability to scan for and connect to nearby devices on the same network” and that “This is a standard function commonly provided by smart TVs and smart home devices.”
Then there’s Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), one of the main “spying” features found on smart TVs that tracks what you’re watching. LG says its version of ACR uses “fingerprinting technology to identify content” rather than screenshots, audio recordings, or video recordings. The company says ACR “extracts a digital fingerprint of the TV content being viewed using the TV’s internal audio processor (not a speaker)” and may use that data for “audience segmentation and viewing or audience trend analysis.”
LG also says ACR is an “optional feature that is turned off by default.” So, in a sense, LG is still keeping tabs on what you’re watching, but only if you give it permission, and its digital fingerprinting technology isn’t actually taking screenshots or recordings.
However, even if ACR is technically off by default, many users may still have it enabled during the TV setup process without realizing it. Here’s how to check and turn it off.
Quiz
LG Smart TVs
Trivia Challenge
From OLED breakthroughs to webOS wizardry — how well do you really know LG’s television legacy?
webOSOLEDHistoryFeaturesTechnology
In what year did LG Electronics first launch its Smart TV platform under the ‘LG Smart TV’ branding?
Correct! LG officially launched its Smart TV lineup in 2011, bringing internet connectivity and app access to its televisions. This was part of a broader industry push to turn TVs into connected entertainment hubs.
Not quite — LG introduced its Smart TV platform in 2011. While connected TV concepts existed earlier, 2011 was the year LG formalized and branded the experience, coinciding with a wave of smart TV launches across the industry.
LG acquired the webOS operating system from which company to power its Smart TVs?
Correct! LG acquired webOS from HP in 2013, which had originally obtained it through its purchase of Palm in 2010. LG repurposed the mobile OS into a smart TV platform, debuting it on TVs at CES 2014.
The correct answer is HP, which inherited webOS through its 2010 acquisition of Palm. LG bought the platform from HP in 2013 and transformed it from a struggling mobile OS into the backbone of its Smart TV ecosystem.
LG became the first company to mass-produce large-screen OLED TVs for consumers. What screen size did their landmark 2013 model feature?
Correct! LG’s groundbreaking 55-inch OLED TV, the 55EM9600, made history as the first commercially available large-screen OLED television. Despite its eye-watering price tag of around $15,000, it marked a turning point for display technology.
The correct size was 55 inches — LG’s 55EM9600 launched as the world’s first mass-produced large-screen OLED TV. It was an engineering marvel at the time, though its steep price kept it out of most living rooms initially.
What is the name of LG’s AI-powered voice assistant integrated into its Smart TVs?
Correct! LG’s AI platform is called ThinQ AI, which powers voice commands, smart home integration, and personalized content recommendations across LG’s Smart TV lineup. LG TVs also support third-party assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The answer is ThinQ AI — LG’s proprietary artificial intelligence platform that underpins voice control and smart home features on its TVs. ThinQ also connects LG’s broader ecosystem of home appliances under one unified AI umbrella.
LG’s QNED TV technology combines quantum dot filters with which other display enhancement technology?
Correct! LG’s QNED technology combines quantum dot and NanoCell filter layers with a Mini LED backlight system, allowing for more precise local dimming zones and improved contrast compared to traditional LED LCD sets.
The right answer is Mini LED backlighting. LG’s QNED TVs layer quantum dot and NanoCell technologies on top of a Mini LED backlight, creating a panel that punches above its weight in contrast and color accuracy compared to standard LCD displays.
Which unique hardware accessory, shaped like a magic wand, does LG provide to navigate webOS on its Smart TVs?
Correct! The Magic Remote is LG’s iconic gyroscopic remote control that lets users point and click on screen like a mouse. It also supports voice commands and scroll wheel input, making webOS navigation feel fluid and intuitive.
It’s called the Magic Remote — LG’s signature motion-sensing remote that uses a gyroscope to let users point at the screen and select items like a cursor. It’s been a hallmark of the LG Smart TV experience for over a decade.
Before the LG name existed, the company was formed from the merger of two South Korean firms. Which two companies merged to create LG?
Correct! LG stands for Lucky Goldstar — the result of a merger between Lucky (a chemicals company) and Goldstar (an electronics firm). The company rebranded to LG in 1995 as part of its push to become a globally recognized consumer electronics brand.
The answer is Lucky and Goldstar. LG is literally an abbreviation of those two company names, and the brand adopted its current identity in 1995. Goldstar was already known for producing televisions before the rebrand elevated LG to global prominence.
LG’s G-series OLED TVs use a special panel mounting design that places the TV flush against a wall with virtually no gap. What is this feature called?
Correct! LG’s Zero Gap Wall Mount system allows the G-series OLED Evo TVs to sit just millimeters from the wall, giving them an art-gallery aesthetic when mounted. The design eliminates unsightly gaps and cable clutter for a sleek, built-in look.
The correct term is Zero Gap Wall Mount, exclusive to LG’s G-series OLED lineup. The innovative mount lets the TV sit almost perfectly flush against the wall, mimicking the look of a framed painting — a concept LG calls its Gallery series design philosophy.
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How to turn off ACR on your LG TV
Protect your privacy
If you don’t want LG keeping tabs on what you’re watching on your TV and want to protect your privacy, you’ll want to turn off a setting called Live Plus, which is what LG calls ACR on its TVs.
You can find Live Plus by navigating to Settings > General > System > Additional Settings. Under that menu, you’ll see Live Plus (as you can see in the image above), which you can then toggle off.
LG says that ACR isn’t enabled by default on its TVs and is optional. While that’s technically true, if you accepted the User Agreements during a quick setup on your TV when you first got it, it may have been enabled automatically, so you will need to turn it off.
That said, while I’ve turned off Live Plus on my LG TV, in my view, the best way to stop your LG TV, or any smart TV for that matter, from collecting data you don’t want it to is to simply turn off Wi-Fi on the TV. This stops background data-collection processes in their tracks.
Now, I know this is easier said than done, but if you only rely on devices connected to your TV via HDMI, such as a PS5 or Roku, and don’t use its built-in apps at all, then based on my experience, turning off Wi-Fi directly on your TV makes virtually no difference to your everyday experience. At the same time, it prevents your TV from collecting and transmitting sensitive data you don’t want it to.
That said, if you rely on your LG TV’s built-in streaming apps and turning off Wi-Fi isn’t an option, you can go to Settings > Support > Privacy & Terms > User Agreements and withdraw your consent from agreements such as the Viewing Information Agreement, Voice Information Agreement, and Internet-based Advertising Agreement. This lets you opt out of some background data collection on your TV while keeping Wi-Fi enabled so you can still use any built-in streaming apps.
