LG Smart TVs Gather Extensive User Data, and a Factory Reset Can Remove Some Logs
A report highlights that LG smart TVs collect extensive user data, including search terms, audio recordings, payment details, and screenshots, and send it to LG AdSolutions. The data is stored locally and transmitted to servers, with Wi-Fi used to estimate location. A factory reset is described as the only way to remove certain local logs.
LG smart TVs reportedly gather search queries, audio, payment data, and screenshots, transmitting them to Alfonso, Inc., also called LG AdSolutions. The company says 49 million of its smart TVs operate in the U.S. and 216 million worldwide, creating a large pool for targeted ads and recommendations.
Local activity logs record profile logins, voice commands, searches, and app launches with timestamps, mainly for diagnostics. Data packets can include IP and profile details, screen images, audio, Wi-Fi settings, and precise location, sent to servers as often as every three seconds. A factory reset is the only way to clear some local logs.
Households using LG smart TVs could see their viewing habits, voice interactions, and even room audio analyzed for advertising. This may heighten privacy concerns, especially if location and payment data are involved. Consumers might need to weigh smart features against data exposure, while advertisers could gain unusually detailed insights. A factory reset may offer limited relief, but it also resets user convenience. Regulators and privacy advocates may cite such reports in future debates, though actual effects remain uncertain.