LG Smart TVs Caught Recording Audio and Scanning Home Networks in Standby, Investigation Finds

A 500-hour, $70,000 investigation by Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs found LG smart TVs logging microphone audio and scanning home Wi-Fi networks for nearby devices even in standby or offline, storing data locally and uploading it — including to LG Ad Solutions — once reconnected, with one test set sending around 4GB of ACR-related data to LG per month. The findings drew wide press coverage on 8-9 September and a US law firm has opened an investigation, putting the ad-funded smart TV data model under an uncomfortable spotlight.