A new report alleges that LG Smart TVs are recording people’s conversations, transcribing them to text, then uploading the data. According to an exhaustively detailed investigation by Gaming Nexus, they proved that the TVs are doing much more than most users realize, including scanning WiFi networks, mapping secondary devices like phones and smartwatches, and recording conversations.
This data is then allegedly uploaded to LG’s targeted advertising firm LG Ad Solutions, which utilizes data from its customers to better target marketing. It was already well-known that Smart TVs use a technology known as Automated Content Recognition (ACR), which lets companies track customer viewing habits, but that it’s logging conversations is a new development.
The tests Gaming Nexus performed apparently show that LG Smart TVs are capable of capturing and storing microphone audio even when the devices appeared to be powered down and in standby mode. Even if the TV was disconnected from the internet, the moment it’s reconnected, the TV allegedly uploads the stored data.
“We know you’re listening to us!”
The video explains in detail how casual conversations in the same room as the TV are allegedly transcoded to text files, showing what they say is a file from their experiments showing recorded information in staged “ambient conversations” like, “My personally identifiable information is as follows birthday January 1st” or “my social security code is 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1”. The two men go on to tell the TV, “You f–ker! We know you’re listening to us!”
LG has underlined that voice features are optional, saying, “LG Electronics reaffirms that LG TVs do not collect, record, or store ambient conversations. Voice recognition is an optional user-initiated feature that processes voice data only when activated by the user to fulfill a specific request. Customers can use smart TV features without enabling voice recognition.”
However, the reaction from customers is shock and surprise. Reddit’s r/technology is processing the news, with one pointing out that “This used to be a tinfoil conspiracy theory”, another that “This seems like wire tapping, which is illegal”, and, as a reflection of the growing anger towards breaches of privacy:
“We can’t live in this kind of lawless world where some s–theads in a private company spy on every conversation in the entire world where there is a device like this. This is spying and breach of privacy on such a scale and to such an extent that it would sound unrealistic and unlikely to the average person, and would sound unbelievable even just ten years ago. This is so f–king dystopian.”
Some users advise simply never connecting the TV to the internet, which would ordinarily prevent it from uploading data about you. However, other users allege that the TV is actively scanning for open WiFi networks so it can upload the data without you ever allowing it to connect to your home network.
LG has not addressed the specific claims made in the Games Nexus video. The Gaming Nexus producers say they asked LG for comment on their concerns, but that LG did not respond.
Published: Sep 7, 2026 05:58 am