LG, a leading manufacturer in the smart TV market, has officially responded to significant claims that its devices secretly listen to users and collect information without supervision. While the company categorically denied accusations that televisions record ambient sound in standby mode, it confirmed that they scan the local network in a home to identify other connected devices.

What Did the Gamers Nexus Study Reveal?

At the heart of the controversy is a comprehensive security study published by the Gamers Nexus group, known for its technology-focused content. Based on network packet analysis and firmware reviews, the report claims that approximately 216 million active LG smart TVs worldwide aggressively monitor user habits. The study alleges that the devices map all hardware on the local network, capture audio via the microphone even in standby mode, and even store some text transcripts in plain text without encryption.

LG: “Ambient Sounds Are Not Recorded and Sent to Servers”

Following these findings, which caused a wide public stir, LG’s expected statement was not delayed. The company emphasized that televisions do not record ambient conversations without the user’s knowledge and do not send them to external servers. According to the statement, the sound processing process is only activated in two specific scenarios:

How Does the Sound Processing Work?

• Physical Command: The process is initiated when the user presses and holds the microphone/sound button on the remote control.
• Hands-Free (Far Field) Detection: If explicitly enabled by the user from the menu, the system is triggered only when the wake-up phrase “Hi LG” is detected.

The company acknowledges that televisions listen for wake-up commands while in standby mode; However, it is stated that this listening takes place entirely on-device, and that the audio data is instantly deleted unless a command is detected. Therefore, it is mentioned that ambient conversations are not transmitted to the company’s servers.

Local Network Scanning Acknowledged: A Standard Feature?

LG did not back down on the issue of local network scanning, one of the points most emphasized by security experts. Confirming that televisions scan smartphones, printers, computers, and other IoT devices connected to the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network, the company argued that this is an industry standard function for device discovery and seamless matching in smart home ecosystems.

The technology giant also touched upon Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology used in personalized content and advertising targeting, reminding that this feature is optional. LG states that ACR information is not processed for advertising targeting purposes unless the user explicitly gives permission.

Unanswered Security Issues

Although LG’s statement aimed to alleviate concerns about audio eavesdropping, several critical technical details raised in the Gamers Nexus investigation remain unanswered. In particular, the official statement’s omission of the claim that system logs and certain text transcripts are kept unencrypted has not completely dispelled the doubts of privacy-conscious users. Discussions about data security and user privacy in the smart TV market are expected to become more frequent in the coming period.