LG officially denies reports that its smart TVs are secretly recording users
The electronics manufacturing giant finally responds to accusations that it has created a spy network in people's homes.
LG electronics has vehemently denied allegations that its smart TVs are surreptitiously recording users' conversations, even when the screen is turned off. Following a viral two-hour video by Gamers Nexus, numerous response videos have surfaced, cautioning viewers about potential privacy breaches from TV manufacturers. One such response comes from Linus Tech Tips and RTINGS, among others. In response to these claims, LG has formally denied them publicly and on their official website.
The denial is detailed in a statement titled "Understanding Privacy on LG Smart TVs." The company strongly asserts that its smart TVs do not engage in continuous recording or transmission of users' conversations. According to LG, speech-to-text processing only initiates when a user activates voice interaction through a predetermined wake-word feature or by pressing a designated voice button on the remote control. If no wake-word is detected, audio is not converted to text, stored, or transmitted.
What's more, any audio used for wake-word detection is processed locally on the TV itself. Should the wake word not be recognized, the audio does not undergo conversion, storage, or transmission. Furthermore, voice-recognition outcomes and related technical logs, which might be generated during voice command processing, are confined to specific interactions and do not imply ongoing surveillance of conversations absent an active voice recognition session.
LG maintains that any voice-recognition results can support voice-related features but are not uploaded when the TV is offline or when connectivity is restored. However, despite these clarifications, lingering doubts about LG's stance persist. The company's claim that "LG smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit users’ conversations" raises questions about the frequency of potential recordings. The statement's wording has also been scrutinized, leaving room for further debate.
This controversy adds to a series of incidents that highlight the ongoing debate surrounding consumer convenience and privacy. While it's critical to engage in this discussion, the timing seems somewhat ironic, given LG's recent violation of consumer trust.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
