According to Gamers Nexus, the constant data flow is tied to the TV’s built‑in advertising functions, which are designed to track viewing habits for targeted ads.

The researchers also demonstrated software flaws that let them activate the TV’s microphones, record sound, and potentially turn the set into a covert listening device.

Most of the problems they found involve LG’s Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) system. ACR can identify the program you are watching, the apps you use, and the devices linked to the TV.

LG Ad Solutions’ website states it can detect 363 million “U.S. addressable secondary devices,” a figure that exceeds the 216 million LG TVs the company has sold worldwide.

In corporate videos, an LG representative said, “We know who is in the LG household,” and an LG Ad Solutions spokesperson added, “We own the glass,” indicating the company’s awareness of household data.

Gamers Nexus also reported that LG TVs gather the user’s IP address, geographic location, names of nearby Wi‑Fi networks, and the IP addresses of other devices on the same network.

For everyday users, this means a TV could build a detailed profile of daily habits, location, and even conversations, which can be used for highly targeted advertising or, if misused, for surveillance.

These capabilities turn a common household appliance into a potential privacy risk, highlighting why consumers should understand what their devices do even when they appear turned off.