The TV world has been a pot of controversy thanks to a two-hour-and-15-minute video from Gamers Nexus claiming LG TVs are nefariously spying on everything you do. They can record and store audio even when they seem to be...
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Not every smart TV is as easily hackable as Gamers Nexus says LG's are, but they're all tracking what you watch unless you opt out.
Not every smart TV is as easily hackable as Gamers Nexus says LG's are, but they're all tracking what you watch unless you opt out.
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The TV world has been a pot of controversy thanks to a two-hour-and-15-minute video from Gamers Nexus claiming LG TVs are nefariously spying on everything you do. They can record and store audio even when they seem to be off, track everything you watch, and could even be hacked remotely and turned into covert surveillance devices. LG TV owners, and tech enthusiasts in general, are furious, and a hurried response from LG has done little to calm the situation.
Some of the claims in the video may be based on speculation and assumptions, but many of the core concerns are real and pervasive. While LG was the focus of the video, every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners. And we agree to it - even if we don't realize it.
TV prices have come down significantly over the years, to the point where some companies are selling them at a loss. But they make up that shortfall selling user behavior data they collect from the OS. It's why Walmart bought Vizio in 2024.
There's a lot going on in the Gamers Nexus video, but we'll start with the part pretty much everyone making TVs is doing: tracking what you watch, when you watch, where you watch, and how you watch to sell you things about it all. Automatic content recognition (ACR) systems are built into just about every modern TV and can identify the content playing through built-in streaming apps and over the TV's ports by grabbing snippets of audio or video, converting them into digital fingerprints, and sending them to a database for identification. It's what allows a TV to make content recommendations, as well as feed you ads based on your viewing habits. It's also one way companies like Nielsen can track viewership across platforms and services.
In order for TVs to capture this information, you need to agree to it. One of Gamers Nexus' complaints in the video is that this consent is often buried in confusing and lengthy agreements that you need to accept in order to use the TV, and that companies often use dark patterns or deceptive designs to get users to agree to things without realizing they didn't have to. For example, the Gamers Nexus video showed an LG TV displaying six different user agreements, including one consenting to ACR, and automatically putting the cursor on "Select All" when only two agreements are required to continue.
As a TV reviewer, I have to deal with end-user license agreements (EULA) and privacy policies on every product I review. And while it might be a losing battle because of the sheer number of TVs and other smart devices that come through my apartment, I take steps to try and protect my privacy. I have a burner Gmail account that is used solely for signing into apps and the TV's operating system. Initially, I only accept the legally required documents for the TV to work properly so I can run my picture quality tests - both Calman and test discs. I never agree to automatic content recognition, which is referred to by names including Enhanced Viewing, Smart TV Experience, and Samba Interactive TV.
I also dig through all of the menus, partly to become familiar with all the settings available, but also to make sure any ad or data tracking is toggled off. When I need to test voice control, I'll then accept the voice recognition agreements before testing functionality. And since this is usually the last thing I do in my test process, this is followed by a factory reset before sending the TV back to the manufacturer. If you're worried about privacy, don't use voice control. Or if you do, only use the one on a separate streaming box from a brand you trust.
Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via The Verge.
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