It's not just LG. Every TV company is spying on you
The Verge reports all smart TVs track viewing habits via ACR. While LG faced backlash, users can opt out of data collection.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A 2-hour-15-minute video by Gamers Nexus claims LG TVs secretly record audio and track users
- Every major TV manufacturer tracks viewing habits via Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) to sell ads
- Lower TV prices are offset by selling OS user data, exemplified by Walmart buying Vizio in 2024
- Users can protect their privacy by opting out of tracking agreements and adjusting menu settings
The television industry recently found itself caught in a controversy following a two-hour-and-15-minute video by Gamers Nexus, which alleged that LG televisions covertly spy on consumer activities. The video claimed these devices can record and store audio even when appearing turned off, track viewing habits, and potentially be hacked remotely into surveillance tools. This sparked intense anger among LG owners and tech enthusiasts, while a hurried response from the manufacturer did little to ease tensions.
Although certain assertions in the video might stem from speculation, many core concerns remain genuine and pervasive. While LG served as the primary focus of the clip, the reality is that every television manufacturer tracks user actions, gathers that data, and shares it with commercial partners—often with our unwitting consent.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Television hardware prices have dropped dramatically over the years, to the point where some brands sell units at a loss, recovering those financial shortfalls by monetizing user behavior data collected via the operating system. This economic model explains why retail giant Walmart acquired Vizio in 2024.
A central element discussed in the video involves Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) systems built into nearly all modern smart TVs. These systems capture brief audio or video snippets from streaming apps and ports, converting them into digital fingerprints sent to databases for identification. This technology powers content recommendations and targeted advertising while allowing measurement firms like Nielsen to track viewership across platforms.
Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) functions as a constant digital observer in modern living rooms, analyzing micro-fragments of audio and video in real time. While it delivers convenient personalized recommendations, it simultaneously integrates household media consumption into massive advertising data pipelines that operate largely out of sight.
For televisions to harvest this data, users must grant permission. A major complaint highlighted by Gamers Nexus is that consent requests are frequently concealed within lengthy, confusing end-user license agreements, utilizing deceptive design patterns to trick consumers into accepting unnecessary terms. For instance, the video demonstrated an LG television displaying six agreements while automatically positioning the cursor on "Select All," despite only two being mandatory for basic operation.
As a professional TV reviewer, John Higgins from The Verge navigates these privacy policies routinely, employing personal safeguards such as utilizing a burner Gmail account for sign-ins, declining automatic content recognition—often labeled as Enhanced Viewing, Smart TV Experience, or Samba Interactive TV—and conducting thorough menu sweeps to disable data tracking before performing a factory reset prior to returning review units.
Source: The Verge
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