TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
LG Smart TVs Log and Upload Data Even When Offline, Investigation Finds
WHY IT MATTERS
The discovery shows that LG TVs continuously collect and transmit personal information, meaning users may unknowingly share sensitive data with the manufacturer, raising significant privacy concerns.
What happened
A recent probe by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, joined by Level1Techs and independent security researchers, revealed that LG’s smart TVs routinely log and transmit user data even when offline or in standby mode. The study tested retail LG OLED models and captured network packets showing the devices scanning local Wi‑Fi networks for nearby hardware, recording audio through built‑in microphones, and sampling audio and video to identify what viewers are watching across all inputs.
The findings indicate that the TVs continuously gather and upload information about owners and their homes, regardless of active use.
The investigation highlights a persistent privacy risk that consumers may not be aware of while using these popular appliances.
PRIMARY SOURCES
LG TVs caught spying even when offline or on standby
The Verge · Dominic Preston · Discovery only; Vox Media copyright terms apply