New Delhi: LG smart TVs are facing fresh privacy concerns after an investigation by Gamers Nexus, Level1Techs and independent security researchers reportedly found that some models can scan connected devices on home networks and, under certain circumstances, capture microphone audio even when the television appears to be switched off or in standby mode.

The findings have raised questions about the amount of information smart televisions collect inside homes, particularly as TV manufacturers increasingly use connected devices to provide personalised recommendations and advertising services.

However, the investigation does not establish that all LG smart TVs routinely listen to conversations when their screens are off. Researchers demonstrated the audio-capture capability on a compromised television, while LG has strongly rejected the broader claim that its TVs routinely collect ambient conversations.

Researchers find extensive network scanning

According to the investigation reported by India Today Tech, researchers examined several LG television models and found that the devices could identify other products connected to the same home Wi-Fi network.

These could include smartphones, computers, printers and smart-home devices. Researchers also found that the televisions could gather information about nearby wireless networks, including network names and signal strength.

Such information can potentially provide a detailed picture of the technology environment inside a household. When combined with other information collected by a connected TV, researchers said it could help build a profile of what devices are being used and what content household members are watching.

The investigation also examined LG’s Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, technology.

What is Automatic Content Recognition?

ACR is a technology used by smart TVs to identify content displayed on the screen. Depending on the implementation, it can recognise programmes, advertisements and other content being viewed.

India Today reported that researchers examined how ACR data could potentially be combined with advertising identifiers, information about connected devices and nearby wireless networks. Such information can be valuable to advertising businesses seeking to understand viewing behaviour and reach consumers across different devices.

LG, however, said its ACR feature is opt-in. The company told India Today Tech that ACR data is not used for advertising purposes when users do not consent to the applicable optional agreement.

This distinction is important because the presence of an ACR capability does not automatically mean that every television is sending viewing information for advertising.

Can an LG TV record audio when switched off?

This is the most concerning part of the investigation, but also the claim that requires the most context.

Researchers reportedly demonstrated that a vulnerability could allow a compromised LG TV to capture microphone audio even when the television appeared to be turned off or was in standby mode. They also demonstrated that the captured audio could be stored locally without an active internet connection and potentially retrieved after the television reconnects to the internet.

The researchers also reported remote-code-execution vulnerabilities. If a television were compromised through such a vulnerability, an attacker could potentially gain access to audio, the home network or other connected devices, according to the investigation.

But this does not mean that every LG television is secretly recording conversations whenever its screen is switched off.

India Today specifically noted that the demonstration involved a compromised TV. Therefore, the findings should be understood primarily as a potential security and privacy risk rather than proof of routine background recording across all LG televisions.

LG rejects claims of routine ambient recording

LG has disputed the claims made in the investigation.

In a statement to India Today Tech, the company said its TVs process voice data only when users press and hold the voice button on the remote or when a wake word such as “Hi LG” is recognised after the user has activated Far-Field Voice Recognition.

LG said that outside those circumstances, its televisions do not collect or record ambient conversations. The company also said that when the wake word is not recognised, voice data is not transmitted to its server and the local audio processing used for wake-word detection is immediately deleted.

The company also defended network scanning as a normal smart-TV function. According to LG, its televisions can scan for and connect to nearby devices on the same network to provide smart-TV functionality, describing this as a feature commonly found in smart TVs and smart-home devices.

Why the findings matter for smart-TV users

Modern televisions are no longer simply display devices. They can connect to the internet, run applications, communicate with smartphones and other gadgets, recognise viewing content and provide voice-controlled features.

LG’s own support documentation also confirms that certain standby functions can remain available when the television is not actively being watched. Its support page says standby mode can provide services while the user is not watching TV and can support voice recognition in certain configurations.

That makes security vulnerabilities particularly significant. A compromised smart TV can potentially become another entry point into a connected household.

The issue is not limited to one manufacturer either. Researchers and technology analysts have repeatedly raised broader questions about the data-collection practices of connected television platforms. Gamers Nexus said its wider investigation is examining data collection and privacy practices across smart-device manufacturers.

What LG TV owners can do

Users concerned about privacy can take several practical steps.

First, they can review the privacy and user-agreement settings on their LG television and disable optional features they do not require. India Today recommends reviewing settings related to ACR, viewing-information collection, personalised advertising and voice recognition.

Users can also consider placing smart TVs on a separate guest or IoT network rather than connecting them directly to the same network used by computers and personal devices.

Another recommendation is to disable UPnP on the home router if it is not required. Users should also keep their television software updated, as security vulnerabilities can be addressed through firmware and webOS updates. LG provides software-update instructions for its smart TVs through its support service.

LG’s current user-agreement system also allows users to review optional agreements and change their selections, while certain core agreements are required for smart services such as Netflix and YouTube.

A privacy warning, not proof of universal spying

The latest findings highlight an important reality of connected-home technology: devices that offer greater convenience can also collect more information about their surroundings.

For LG television owners, the investigation is worth taking seriously from a cybersecurity perspective, particularly because researchers demonstrated what could happen after a device is compromised. At the same time, it would be misleading to conclude that all LG TVs are routinely recording conversations while switched off.

LG has denied that its televisions collect ambient conversations outside specified voice-recognition scenarios, while the researchers’ demonstration highlights a potential vulnerability that could be exploited if a television were compromised.

The episode therefore underlines the need for consumers to regularly review privacy settings, limit unnecessary connected features and keep smart devices updated rather than assuming that a television is completely inactive simply because its screen is off.