A viral investigation accused LG smart TVs of watching more than you watch on them. LG denies the most alarming parts. The useful move, whatever the truth of the disputed claims, is to lock yours down, and that takes about five minutes.
In early September 2026, a lengthy technical investigation from the testing outlet Gamers Nexus, working with other researchers, set off a fresh wave of worry about LG smart TVs. Days later, LG issued a formal denial of the strongest allegations. The result is a lot of heat and not much clarity, so here is the calm version: what has actually been shown, what remains a claim, and exactly how to shut off the data collection you can control.
Bottom Line First
Researchers say they captured an LG TV scanning the local network and logging connected devices, and separately allege it captured microphone audio while the screen appeared off. The network-scanning part is not really in dispute; LG confirms its TVs discover devices on your network, though it says that is for compatibility, not profiling. The dramatic audio-surveillance claims are contested, and LG flatly denies that its TVs continuously record conversations. Regardless of where that argument lands, you can disable the tracking features that are clearly real, chiefly a feature called Live Plus, in your TV’s settings.
What the Researchers Say They Found
Using network-capture tools on a retail LG OLED, the researchers say they watched the TV sweep the local network and catalogue unrelated devices, phones, computers, printers, even smart thermostats, with one unit reportedly logging dozens of devices. They also allege the set captured microphone audio during standby and that cached data was later sent to LG’s advertising infrastructure, as documented in Tom’s Hardware’s coverage of both the claims and the response.
Worth being precise here. The network-scanning was demonstrated and is the least disputed part. The audio claims are the contested core, and even some of the original framing about the TV “hunting” for open networks to offload data was later walked back by the research community as overstated.
What LG Says
LG’s position, laid out in a September 12 newsroom statement, is a direct denial of the surveillance narrative. LG says its smart TVs “do not continuously record or transmit users’ conversations,” that wake-word detection runs locally, and that audio the TV does not recognize is discarded immediately. Speech-to-text, the company says, starts only after you trigger it with a wake word or the remote’s voice button.
LG does acknowledge the network scanning, describing it as a way “to recognize and communicate with compatible external devices,” and states it is “not used for household profiling, cross-device targeting, or advertising segmentation.” On content tracking, LG says its automatic content recognition does not store voice recordings or screenshots, and that the feature is optional and off by default.
What’s Proven vs. What’s Disputed
Cutting through the noise, here is the honest split.
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| LG TVs scan your local network and log connected devices | Demonstrated; LG confirms device discovery |
| Automatic content recognition tracks what you watch for ad targeting | Established, industry-wide feature; can be turned off |
| The TV records ambient conversations while the screen is off | Alleged by researchers; LG denies |
| Captured audio is uploaded to LG’s advertising arm | Alleged; LG denies continuous recording |
You’ve Heard a Version of This Before
The reason the new claims landed so hard is that the underlying practice is old and real. Automatic content recognition, or ACR, fingerprints what appears on your screen to build a viewing profile for advertisers, and it ships across the whole industry. Samsung, Sony, Roku, and Amazon sets all use their own versions.
There is also legal precedent. In 2017, TV maker Vizio paid $2.2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission and state charges that it collected second-by-second viewing data from 11 million TVs without proper consent. That case is why “off by default” and “opt-in” now matter so much, and why the current LG claims feel plausible even before the audio dispute is resolved. For more on connected-device privacy, see Visboo’s Technology section.
How to Lock Down Your LG TV Tonight
You do not have to wait for the audio argument to settle to cut off the tracking that is clearly real. On most recent LG webOS TVs:
- Turn off Live Plus (ACR): Settings, then General, then System, then Additional Settings, then Live Plus, and switch it off. On some models the path is Settings, General, Live Plus.
- Delete your viewing history: Settings, then Support, then Privacy and Terms, then Delete My Viewing Information.
- Limit ad tracking: Settings, then General, then Advertisements, and enable the “Limit Ad Tracking” or “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” option.
- The strongest option: do not connect the TV to the internet at all. Use a separate streaming stick for apps, and the panel becomes a plain display with nothing to phone home about.
Menu paths shift slightly by model year, so if a label does not match, look for “Live Plus,” “viewing information,” and “advertisements” in the settings search. For another everyday device feature that quietly catches people out, see our guide to why Netflix keeps charging people after they cancel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do LG smart TVs really scan your home network?
Yes, and LG confirms it. Its TVs discover other devices on your network, which LG says is to recognize and connect to compatible devices, not to build advertising profiles. Researchers demonstrated the scanning and logging of connected devices.
Do LG TVs record your conversations?
LG says no. The company denies that its TVs continuously record or transmit conversations, stating that wake-word detection happens locally and unrecognized audio is discarded. Researchers allege they captured standby audio, but that claim is disputed and not established.
What is Live Plus, and should I turn it off?
Live Plus is LG’s automatic content recognition feature, which identifies what you watch to target ads. If you would rather not be tracked that way, you can turn it off under Settings, General, System, Additional Settings, Live Plus. It is designed to be optional.
Is this just an LG problem?
No. Automatic content recognition is an industry-wide practice across major smart-TV brands. The 2017 Vizio settlement with the FTC, over collecting viewing data from 11 million TVs, shows the pattern predates this specific controversy.
What is the most effective way to stop the tracking?
Keep the TV off the internet entirely and use a separate streaming device for apps. Short of that, turning off Live Plus, deleting your viewing information, and enabling the ad-tracking limits cover the data collection you can control.
What To Do Next
The audio dispute may take a while to resolve, and you do not need it resolved to act. Turn off Live Plus, clear your viewing history, and decide whether your TV really needs its own internet connection or whether a cheap streaming stick would do the job with less exposure. The tracking you can switch off tonight is worth switching off, whatever the louder claims turn out to be.
