LG Denies Smart TVs Secretly Record Audio Amid Network Scanning Scrutiny

South Korean electronics manufacturer LG has issued a formal denial following media reports alleging that its smart television models secretly record user conversations and ambient household audio. The controversy emerged in early September 2026, when investigations into LG OLED television sets revealed that the hardware actively scanned local networks for connected devices such as smartphones and smartwatches, while also collecting signal strengths and location data from nearby Wi-Fi networks.

The inquiry further highlighted that these television units incorporated Automated Content Recognition technology, which prompted widespread public concern regarding offline audio retention and standby-mode surveillance. According to initial reports, investigators observed that the Automated Content Recognition system could acquire microphone audio even while the television was powered off in standby mode, allegedly saving the audio files locally during internet disconnections and uploading them once network connectivity was restored.

On September 12, 2026, LG published an official statement on its corporate website to address the growing public concern and counter what it characterized as misinformation. The company stated that reports by some media outlets have spread misunderstandings about how LG's smart TVs work. As an industry leader, LG asserted its responsibility to provide customers with clear, accurate information regarding television operations and available privacy configurations.

The manufacturer clarified that its smart televisions do not constantly record or transmit user conversations. Voice-to-text conversion is strictly limited to instances where the user actively initiates voice control functions through a designated wake word or by pressing the voice or artificial intelligence button located on the remote control. Voice processing required to detect the wake word occurs entirely within the television hardware, and if no wake word is detected, the audio input is neither converted to text, saved, nor transmitted externally.

In response to inquiries from international media outlets including Al Jazeera, a company spokesperson detailed the operational mechanics of the far-range voice recognition feature. Recording only occurs after the user has explicitly enabled the feature and either long-presses the physical voice button on the remote or speaks the designated wake word, 'Hey, LG.'

Addressing technical logs generated during operation, LG explained that voice command processing can produce recognition results and related diagnostic logs tied strictly to individual voice operations. The company maintained that these records do not indicate constant ambient recording when voice recognition remains disabled. Furthermore, LG disputed claims regarding offline audio uploads, clarifying that voice recognition results are not uploaded when a television is restored from an offline state.

LG emphasized that privacy-sensitive capabilities, including Automated Content Recognition, voice recognition systems, and interest-based advertising, operate strictly as optional features and remain disabled by default for all consumers. Users must actively opt in to activate these capabilities.

Regarding the Automated Content Recognition technology specifically, LG explained that the system relies on audio fingerprinting via the television's internal audio processor rather than capturing sound through the speakers. The manufacturer stated that the technology is utilized exclusively to identify broadcast or streaming content and does not collect screenshots, screen recordings, video recordings, or audio recordings from the television set, directly refuting allegations that the hardware is secretly recording microphone audio through Automated Content Recognition.