LG defends smart-TV features amid audio surveillance allegations
Summary
LG has denied claims that its smart TVs listen to and record conversations without users’ permission. The company says the TVs only record voice data when users actively press the voice button or say the wake word after enabling voice recognition. An investigation by researchers and tech media raised questions about how LG TVs handle private information and suggested possible privacy risks.Key Facts
- LG smart TVs record voice data only when users press the voice button or say the wake word “Hi LG” after activating the voice recognition feature.
- If the wake word is not recognized, the audio is immediately deleted.
- Researchers from Gamers Nexus and others found that LG TVs may track and collect network data, including audio transcripts, even when the TV is in standby mode.
- Investigators claimed TVs could record audio from up to 12 meters (40 feet) away and store some recordings locally before uploading to LG servers later.
- The TVs might keep recordings in temporary storage (buffers) without users knowing, especially if the network is disconnected.
- Experts warn the computers could be vulnerable to hacking, which could allow unauthorized access to private conversations.
- LG states it has millions of smart TVs in use worldwide, including 49 million in the US.
- Privacy concerns relate to how data is stored, used, and whether users give clear permission for this data collection.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
