LG Rejects Claim That 216 Million of Its Smart TVs Secretly Record Conversations

Today’s Focus

LG has issued a firm denial after an online investigation alleged that roughly 216 million of its smart televisions record ambient audio and monitor users for advertising purposes.

The company told Al Jazeera that claims its sets “spy” on owners or secretly capture conversations are “not true.” LG said its data practices rely on user consent and can be adjusted through device settings.

The allegations circulated through technology outlets including Tom’s Hardware, The Verge, and CNET. Reporting described tests suggesting LG televisions continued transmitting data even when devices appeared to be offline or on standby, according to The Verge.

At the center of the dispute is Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, a technology built into many smart TVs. ACR identifies what appears on screen by sampling video and audio, then uses that information to serve targeted advertising and content recommendations.

LG, as reported by CNET, disputed the specific charge that its televisions record ambient conversations in the room for ad targeting. The company framed the features as standard, opt-in personalization tools common across the industry.

The claims did not originate from a government agency or regulator. They stem from an independent online investigation whose methodology was summarized by Tom’s Hardware.

LG did not announce any product changes in response. The company said users retain control over tracking through their TV settings.

The Debate

Supporters argue

Privacy advocates who raised alarms contend that smart-TV makers collect far more than viewers realize, and that consent is often buried in dense setup menus. The investigation summarized by Tom’s Hardware framed continued data transmission during standby as evidence that “off” does not mean off.

Critics of the industry argue that ACR technology, described by The Verge, turns living-room televisions into monitoring devices most owners never knowingly agreed to. They say default settings frequently enable tracking, placing the burden on consumers to opt out rather than opt in.

Digital-rights groups have long pushed for clearer disclosures and easier controls. Their case is that even if audio is not literally recorded, granular tracking of viewing habits can reveal sensitive personal details.

Supporters of stronger oversight point to a pattern across the sector, not just one brand. They argue regulators should treat connected TVs like other data-collecting devices and require plain-language consent.

Critics argue

LG rejects the framing outright, telling Al Jazeera the spying allegations are “not true.” The company maintains that its features depend on user consent and can be switched off in device settings.

LG, as reported by CNET, specifically denied that its televisions record ambient conversations for advertising. It positioned ACR and related tools as opt-in personalization, not covert surveillance.

Industry defenders note that content-recognition technology is standard across major smart-TV brands and is disclosed in privacy policies. They argue that network activity during standby often reflects routine software updates and connectivity checks, not eavesdropping.

Some technologists caution that data transmission alone does not prove audio recording. They say the two claims are distinct, and that conflating them overstates what the tests demonstrated.

From this view, the strongest defense is that consumers can disable tracking, and that the company discloses its practices. LG contends the coverage mischaracterized ordinary connected-device behavior as spying.

What the experts say

Independent research on connected televisions predates this dispute. A 2019 study by researchers at Northeastern University and Imperial College London found that many smart TVs and streaming devices sent data to servers, including advertising and analytics companies, during normal use.

Princeton University researchers documented in 2019 how ACR software on smart TVs collected screen data and transmitted it to third parties, according to their published findings. The work showed tracking could persist across apps and inputs.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has treated smart-TV tracking as a regulatory matter before. In 2017, the FTC and New Jersey reached a $2.2 million settlement with TV maker Vizio over collecting viewing data without adequate consent.

Consumer Reports has repeatedly advised owners to review privacy settings, noting that ACR is often enabled by default. The organization has tested how to disable such features across brands.

The evidence establishes that smart TVs commonly collect and transmit viewing data. Whether LG specifically records ambient audio, as alleged, has not been confirmed by an independent regulator or peer-reviewed test.

By the Numbers

216 million: approximate number of LG televisions cited by an online investigation as allegedly involved in tracking or audio concerns, per Tom’s Hardware.

“Not true”: LG’s characterization of the spying allegations, as reported by Al Jazeera.

$2.2 million: amount Vizio agreed to pay in a 2017 FTC and New Jersey settlement over collecting viewing data without adequate consent.

2019: year Northeastern University and Imperial College London researchers published findings that many smart TVs transmitted data to advertising and analytics servers.

2019: year Princeton University researchers documented ACR software on smart TVs sending screen data to third parties.

Default: setting under which ACR tracking is often enabled on smart TVs, according to Consumer Reports.