SEOUL, Sep. 12, 2026 — Some recent media coverage may have contributed to misconceptions about how LG smart TVs work. As an industry leader, LG believes we have a responsibility to provide customers with clear and accurate information about how our smart TVs operate and the privacy controls available to them. We would like to clarify how our smart TVs operate and explain our approach to user privacy.
LG smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit users’ conversations. Speech-to-text processing begins only if a user activates a voice interaction through a supported wake-word feature or by pressing the voice (or AI) button on the remote control. Audio used for wake-word detection is processed locally on the TV and, if no wake word is detected, audio is not converted to text, stored, or transmitted. Voice-recognition results and related technical logs may be generated as part of processing a voice command. These records are associated with specific voice interactions and do not indicate continuous recording of conversations occurring outside an active voice recognition session.
Speech-recognition results may be used to support voice-related features but are not uploaded later when the TV is offline or when connectivity is restored.
Features such as Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), voice recognition, and interest-based advertising are optional. These features are not enabled by default. Users can choose to enable these features and can manage or withdraw consent through TV settings.
ACR uses audio fingerprinting technology using the TV’s internal audio processor (not a speaker) to identify content and does not collect screenshots, screen recordings, video recordings, voice recordings, or other audio recordings from the TV. Where ACR is available and enabled, ACR-related information may be used for audience segmentation and viewing or audience trend analysis. Interest-based advertising and cross-device advertising require separate user consent through the applicable advertising-related agreements.
Protecting user privacy is a fundamental principle in the design and operation of LG products and services. Below, we provide additional details on how LG smart TV features work, how information may be processed, what choices users have, and how LG continues to strengthen privacy, transparency, and security.
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Frequently Asked Questions About LG Smart TV Privacy
LG’s Approach to Privacy
Our approach is guided by four principles:
LG's approach is guided by Privacy by Design principles. Privacy considerations are incorporated throughout the product lifecycle, including product planning, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing operation. We regularly review how personal information is collected, used, stored, retained, and deleted -- to support transparency, informed decision-making, meaningful user choice, and compliance with applicable privacy requirements.
Smart TVs and Customer Value
Smart TVs today do much more than display content. They help users discover entertainment, interact with content more naturally, connect devices and services, and personalize their viewing experience.
Features such as voice recognition, content recommendations, connected-device experiences, and personalized services are designed to make finding, accessing, and enjoying content simpler and more intuitive. As with many connected technologies, some features require information to be processed to function as intended.
How LG Smart TVs Work
Voice recognition helps users interact with their smart TVs more naturally through features such as voice search, content discovery, and device control. Voice recognition is off by default. Users can choose whether to use these features and can manage or disable them at any time through TV settings.
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Voice recognition operates only when the relevant Voice Information Agreement has been accepted and a voice interaction has been activated, either by pressing the microphone button on the remote control or through user-enabled Hands-free Voice Control on supported models.
Wake-word detection is performed locally on the device, and audio that does not contain a recognized wake word is not stored, converted to text, or transmitted. Audio used for wake-word detection is processed locally and immediately discarded. If a user has chosen to enable Hands-free Voice Control, the TV may continue monitoring only for the wake word while in standby mode. If no wake word is detected, the audio is processed locally, promptly deleted, and is not transmitted to LG servers.
Speech-to-text processing begins only after a wake word has been recognized or after a user deliberately activates voice recognition using the microphone button. Before that point, the TV is only checking for the wake word and does not generate transcripts. Once voice recognition is activated, the TV temporarily enters a voice recognition session to process the user's request. If no speech is detected, the session automatically ends after approximately 10 seconds. If the user is speaking, the session ends when the system detects that the speech has concluded. In all cases, voice recognition sessions are subject to a maximum duration limit of approximately 18 seconds.
During an active voice recognition session, nearby sounds or speech occurring at the same time as a user's command may sometimes appear in speech-recognition results. When voice recognition is actively used, speech may be converted into text as part of the speech-recognition process. These records are associated with specific voice interactions and do not indicate continuous monitoring, recording, or storage of ambient conversations occurring outside an active voice recognition session.
Voice data is not stored for later upload when the TV is offline and is not transmitted when the connection is restored. The TV does not continuously listen to, record, or store conversations in the home. Audio is no longer collected once the voice recognition session ends.
On supported models, users can disable the TV's built-in microphone using a dedicated hardware microphone switch. When the hardware microphone is turned off, hands-free voice recognition through the TV microphone no longer operates. Voice recognition through the remote-control microphone remains available only if LG Voice Recognition is enabled and the user deliberately presses the microphone button.
2. How Automatic Content Recognition Works Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) helps identify content being viewed from supported sources. Where ACR is available and enabled, ACR-related information may be used for audience segmentation and viewing or audience trend analysis. Interest-based advertising and cross-device advertising require separate user consent through the applicable advertising-related agreements. ACR is an optional feature that is turned off by default. To enable ACR, a user must accept LG’s Viewing Information Agreement, which describes how ACR works. Users who wish to receive personalized, interest-based advertisements must select a separate optional agreement: the Interest-Based Cross Device Advertising Agreement. LG does not use ACR for interest-based advertising unless a user opts in to both agreements. Users can withdraw from these agreements at any time and also can turn off ACR in TV settings.
The Viewing Information Agreement may also be required to support certain voice-related functions. To properly process some voice commands, the service may need to determine what content source the user is currently using. For example, if a user says, “Go to channel 11,” the system may need to determine whether the TV is currently using Live TV or an HDMI-connected device in order to interpret and execute the request appropriately.
ACR uses audio fingerprinting technology to identify content. Rather than collecting screenshots, screen recordings, or visual content from the TV screen, ACR extracts a digital fingerprint of the TV content being viewed using the TV’s internal audio processor (not a speaker). ACR does not collect or store voice recordings, other audio recordings, screenshots, screen images, or video recordings from the TV.
When enabled, ACR may operate on supported content sources such as Live TV, HDMI-connected devices, and LG Channels. It does not operate within third-party streaming apps such as Netflix or YouTube available through LG Apps.
To operate ACR services, LG may process content-identification fingerprints together with device information, content source information (for example, Live TV or HDMI), network information, and consent settings needed to support the feature. ACR-related processing is separate from the device-discovery function used to recognize and connect external devices.
Users can choose whether to use ACR and can disable the feature at any time through TV settings. In markets where ACR is not available, ACR-related data is not collected or processed. 3. How Device Connectivity and Discovery Works Smart TVs are designed to work with a variety of connected devices and services throughout the home. LG smart TVs may use device-discovery functions to recognize and communicate with compatible external devices that users connect or use with the TV.
This function supports the recognition, connection, and control of devices such as set-top boxes, DVD players, game consoles, and IoT devices. The information identified through this device-discovery function is used to support connectivity-related features and is not used for household profiling, cross-device targeting, or advertising segmentation.
Nearby Wi‑Fi access-point information and signal-strength information are processed separately from device discovery. In markets where ACR is available and enabled, this information may be used to help estimate the TV’s approximate location in support of ACR services. This processing occurs only when the relevant agreements have been accepted.
Device discovery, nearby Wi-Fi processing, and ACR are separate functions with different purposes: device discovery supports external-device connectivity, nearby Wi-Fi information supports approximate location estimation for ACR, and ACR identifies content from supported sources.
Customers can choose whether to enable optional services associated with these experiences and can manage related settings through their TV.
User Choice and Control LG takes an opt-in approach to optional services and features. Customers can choose whether to use optional features such as voice recognition, ACR, and interest-based advertising. These features require separate agreements and can be reviewed, managed, or withdrawn through TV settings at any time.
Declining optional agreements does not prevent users from using core smart TV functionality. Depending on the market, users can continue using streaming apps, live TV, HDMI-connected devices, software updates, and other essential smart TV features without enabling optional data-driven services.
Customers can access, manage, modify, or request deletion of their personal information in accordance with applicable privacy laws and LG’s privacy policies. In supported markets and services, certain viewing and voice information can be managed directly through TV settings.
Data Sharing and Partners Certain smart TV features rely on specialized service providers and partners to operate. Depending on the feature being used and the agreements a user has accepted, information may be processed by service providers that support services such as voice recognition, content recognition, measurement, advertising-related services, or other connected experiences.
Depending on the market, applicable agreements, and user choices, ACR-related viewing information may be shared with LG Ad Solutions., which is a majority-owned affiliate, to support audience segmentation, viewing and audience trend analysis, and, where separately consented to, interest-based advertising and cross-device advertising.
In certain markets and under applicable user agreements, ACR-related information may also be shared in ways that may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under applicable privacy laws. Users can choose whether to participate in these services and may exercise applicable opt-out rights.
Voice-audio data and ambient-audio data are not provided to LG Ad Solutions as part of its advertising services.
Information about devices connected through HDMI is distinct from information collected through the device-discovery function. HDMI-connected device information may be used for audience segmentation or other advertising-related purposes only when the user has separately accepted the applicable advertising-related agreements. Without that separate consent, the information is not used for those advertising purposes.
When a user disables ACR, withdraws consent, or exercises applicable opt-out rights, including "Do Not Sell" requests, ACR data collection stops.
Security and Ongoing Protection As smart TVs become more connected and capable, security remains an essential part of the user experience. No connected product is ever completely immune from security vulnerabilities, which is why ongoing monitoring, testing, and improvement remain important throughout the product lifecycle.
LG operates a Bug Bounty Program and works with external security researchers to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. Through responsible disclosure programs and other security processes, LG regularly investigates reported issues, assesses potential user impact, and develops mitigations or software updates where appropriate.
Users are encouraged to keep their TVs updated with the latest available software and install security updates when they become available. LG currently provides security updates for eligible TV products for up to five years from the initial release of the applicable webOS platform version, subject to product support policies and applicable requirements. Our Commitment |
LG is committed to providing meaningful user choice, transparent information, strong security protections, and continuous improvement across our products and services. As technology evolves, we will continue working to strengthen privacy protections, simplify customer controls, improve transparency, and help users get the most from their smart TV experience.
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