LG Smart TVs Are Listening a Little Too Long - DTNS 5348

Tom Merritt (0:08)

This is the Daily Tech News for Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 We tell you what you need to know, give you important context and increase your understanding.

Jason Howell (0:22)

I was waiting for of, but it's of everything.

Nicole Ackermans (0:25)

Of everything, Jason.

Tom Merritt (0:28)

You'll understand why I'm talking like this in a little bit.

Jason Howell (0:33)

It makes me lean in, is what it does. Today, Dr. Niki reviews the LG Noble, the IG Noble prizes.

Tom Merritt (0:41)

We got something else about LG. That's on your mind. I know.

Jason Howell (0:44)

I've got LG on the mind, man.

It's silly sounding, but interesting achievements in science. And then we have LG, LG TV is collecting a lot more information than you might think.

Tom Merritt (0:56)

And it's Star Trek's 60th birthday.

Yeah, it is. It's also the day before Apple CEO John Ternes is expected to announce a foldable iPhone.

Jason Howell (1:07)

Okay.

Tom Merritt (1:07)

Yeah, which is kind of like a Star Trek communicator.

When you think about it. I'm Tom Merritt.

Jason Howell (1:13)

I'm Jason Howell.

Tom Merritt (1:14)

Let's start with what you need to do with the big story.

Yeah, KV87 noted this one on our DTNs subreddit, Gamers Nexus published a 135 minute long, exhaustive, extensive and comprehensive video. Exhaustive, not in the sense that you'll be tired for watching it, but but really covering it. Well, the video claims that LG can gather data on users, even when the screen of the TV is off. Gamers Nexus worked with Level One Techs and a few other independent researchers to look at what data your smart TVs are collecting.

For LG, in addition to typical information like location and IP address, maybe you didn't know LG TVs or any TVs collected that. Most smart TVs are collecting that. Most web browsers collecting that. That part's not controversial. LG, on the other hand, also logs the names of the Wi-Fi networks in range and the network names of devices on the same network as the TV. That's something that is also unfortunately all too common, but usually from third-party advertisers trying to fingerprint you and stuff like that. You might not expect LG to be one of those. Gamers Nexus said that the voice recognition system also keeps recording and transcribing for up to 15 seconds after your command has been processed, which means you get some private conversations in the transcript on the TV. Now, we don't know exactly what they do with that transcript, but people are suspicious. And 15 seconds seems to be a little long after voice activation to keep that stuff.

Also, like all smart TVs, LG's TVs run automatic content recognition. LG calls it Live Plus. So if you're looking to turn it off, by the way, look for Live Plus. It's on by default, and that logs your viewing habits, and they use that to sell targeted ads. They don't exactly directly share your list of things you viewed under your name with someone, but they will say, like, hey, would you like to reach people who watch the new Lantern show on HBO Max? And if you're using HBO Max on your LG TV, then they'll be able to target that ad. All of this happens whether there is an internet connection or not. So the screen could be off, and it's still transcribing. The internet could be turned off, and it's still going to log information. And then if you turn on the internet to, like, say do a firmware update, it's going to send all that information when that connection is restored.

Jason Howell (3:39)

Hmm. Okay.

This, I mean, it doesn't sound good, Tom.

Tom Merritt (3:45)

I think it probably sounds...

Jason Howell (3:46)

Yet at the same time, other TV's probably do a lot of this, and I think it's really about disclosure more than anything.

Tom Merritt (3:52)

Gamers Nexus does a good job. So I don't want to throw any shade on them. But whenever there's a video of anything, it does tend to elevate everyone's anxiety level about stuff.

And I think, yeah, this is probably sounds worse than it is. I've seen a lot of people talking about, LG TVs are listening to me all the time. No, they're not, but they're listening to you more than they should. So I don't want to minimize and say it's not a problem.

It is. There can quickly be some misunderstandings and catastrophizing on this. But also, yeah, I think LG is just a couple of steps down the road from where the rest of the smart TVs are, which I think anybody who's been around technology for a while knows. Yeah, those smart TVs are taking your information and selling it to people. Maybe you don't care, but you should know if they're doing that.