It’s not just LG. Every TV company is spying on you

alimac

alimac

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Not every smart TV is as easily hackable as Gamers Nexus says LG’s are, but they’re all tracking what you watch unless you opt out.

The TV world has been a pot of controversy thanks to a two-hour-and-15-minute video from Gamers Nexus claiming LG TVs are nefariously spying on everything you do. They can record and store audio even when they seem to be off, track everything you watch, and could even be hacked remotely and turned into covert surveillance devices. LG TV owners, and tech enthusiasts in general, are furious, and a hurried response from LG has done little to calm the situation.

Some of the claims in the video may be based on speculation and assumptions, but many of the core concerns are real and pervasive. While LG was the focus of the video, every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners. And we agree to it — even if we don’t realize it.

There are ways to protect yourself from your spying TV
 
I think the important point here is to separate the proven concerns from the speculation.

Some of the more alarming claims about LG TVs still need proper evidence, but the wider issue is very real. Most smart TVs use features such as Automatic Content Recognition to identify what you watch, often including programmes received through HDMI devices.

It is usually mentioned somewhere in the setup screens or privacy policy, but how many people realistically read all of that when setting up a new TV? The first thing I would do is check the privacy settings, disable viewing-data collection and personalised advertising, and turn off any features I don’t use.

A smart TV is effectively another internet-connected computer in the home, so it deserves the same attention to privacy and security as any other device.
 
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