Smart TV privacy concerns have resurfaced after a new report highlighted how manufacturers like LG collect data. The impetus for renewed scrutiny is a 135-minute video from Gamers Nexus that details the data LG can gather from its users. The report claims LG’s televisions can persistently listen to conversations even when the power is off, provided an external USB webcam is plugged in.
Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, is a technology used to monitor what viewers are watching to generate targeted ads. This system can even collect viewing data from devices connected via HDMI, such as game consoles or streaming sticks. Gamers Nexus observed an LG TV connecting to advertising endpoints before a user accepted any usage agreements, and the feature continued running even while the TV was offline.
Opting out of ACR is a straightforward way to limit what the TV collects. Most major TV platforms offer a list of steps for disabling the feature in their settings menus. While the specific options vary by model, looking for a privacy or data collection toggle is usually the first step toward reducing the amount of information the device sends to the manufacturer.
The Mic Kill Switch
Many smart televisions include microphones for hands-free voice control. The device typically waits for a wake phrase before transcribing audio to understand the command, similar to Amazon’s Echo devices. Gamers Nexus found that LG’s microphones would continue capturing audio for up to 10 seconds after the user stopped speaking. These transcriptions are stored as plain text files that can be read if a user gains root access to the TV.
Read Also: AI Subscriptions Are the New Electric Bill
Even if your set isn’t constantly recording, you might still want to disable the microphone physically. Some models include a switch on the side or bottom of the unit, while others may have a software toggle in the settings menu. Checking the physical design of the TV or digging through the configuration options can reveal a way to cut the mic off completely.
Don’t Plug a Camera Into Your TV
The most alarming claim from the report involves persistent video and audio capture. This capability requires an external microphone and camera plugged into the TV, such as a USB webcam. The recording process also requires root access, which is not enabled by default. However, the finding raises a practical security concern for public spaces like hotel rooms where an attacker might hide a connected device.
For a TV used in a home environment, the simplest method to prevent this specific type of surveillance is to avoid connecting a camera at all. If you need a webcam for video calls, using a dedicated computer or a standalone camera that isn’t integrated into the television is safer. Keeping the physical ports empty removes the hardware vector for potential spying.
Disconnecting the Internet
The most reliable method to prevent data uploads is to sever the connection between the TV and the internet. This approach turns the device into a dumb screen, though it requires a bit more effort than simply turning off the Wi-Fi. Simply turning off the Wi-Fi might cause it to turn back on after a system reboot, so the best strategy is to go into the settings and delete or forget the network.
Read Also: SpaceX partners with rocket recycling firm as launch demand grows
If the settings are difficult to handle, a factory reset followed by skipping the Wi-Fi connection during setup will achieve the same result. Some manufacturers offer a basic navigation mode that works without an internet connection, allowing the TV to function solely as a monitor for external inputs.
Understanding Streaming Device Privacy
Streaming sticks and boxes have their own privacy issues, separate from the television itself. Devices like the Roku collect information about the other devices on your Wi-Fi network and track which apps you open. While the Apple TV 4K offers a cleaner alternative by limiting how apps share data, individual services like Netflix and Hulu still know what you watch and can use that data for their own ad targeting.
Privacy advocates often suggest using a personal computer connected to the TV instead of a dedicated streaming box. This setup allows for the installation of ad-blockers and other privacy tools in the browser. It also removes the concern of a dedicated streaming device recording viewing habits or analyzing the wider network environment. However, no method completely eliminates data collection by the content providers themselves.