LG Faces Legal Scrutiny Over Smart TV Spying Allegations - And Other Brands Could Be Next

Key Points:

• Northeastern University researchers tested 12 smart TVs from 10 manufacturers to determine if disabling Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) features actually stops data collection, finding mixed results depending on the platform.
• Portuguese consumer association Citizens Voice has asked courts to investigate LG smart TVs for alleged privacy violations, including unauthorized audio storage and security vulnerabilities, though no legal verdict has been reached.
• The study found that opt-out settings fully stopped ACR data transmission on some platforms like LG webOS and Sony Google TV, but others, including Samsung's Tizen and Vizio's SmartCast, continued sending data despite opt-out selections.
• Researchers highlight that many data transmissions were encrypted, so while patterns suggest ongoing data collection after opt-out, the exact content of the traffic could not be independently verified.
• Consumers are advised to disable ACR where available but treat it as only a partial safeguard, with stronger privacy protection achieved by disconnecting TVs from the internet or routing streaming through external devices, alongside reviewing privacy policies and keeping firmware updated.