Recently, a viral video suggested that LG TVs were “spying” on their users; LG, of course, denied these claims. The alarms raised by the video’s researchers — GamersNexus — were more than enough to draw the attention of anyone concerned with privacy. But despite the recent attention, this is not a new problem.
The bigger issue at play here is that LG is absolutely not the only TV manufacturer doing this. In fact, every few years the privacy and security settings from brands like Roku, Samsung and more have been thrown in the spotlight, while all other brands try to stay quiet.
Keeping that in mind, let’s have a look at what’s really going on, from onboard microphones to a “feature” called automatic content recognition, so you can decide for yourself if this is all really worth worrying about.
See also: Just Got a New TV or Streamer? You Need to Change These Privacy Settings
Is my TV listening to me?
One of the major points of Gamer Nexus’ investigation was that the LG TV’s microphones were “always listening.” Yet LG says that its voice and other features are disabled by default and are “opt in,” which still isn’t great, as it’s potentially putting the blame back on the end user, as if saying, “See, they let us listen in!”
The researchers point out that the TV could be hacked, as they did as part of their research, to let someone listen in. LG is saying their TVs, as used normally, aren’t doing anything nefarious. The researchers are saying that the TVs could be manipulated by a third party to spy on users. While both sides of this argument are correct, the reality is somewhere in the middle.
The AI is watching you.demaerre/Getty Images
All voice-activated tech has to be listening all the time. Otherwise, the devices wouldn’t work. What they’re listening for is the “wake word.” Think of it like what a dog hears when you talk to them. It’s “blah blah blah blah walkies? blah blah blah.”
The TV, or notably any other voice-activated smart device, is listening for the word or phrase that “wakes” it up so it knows that it needs to decipher whatever comes next. The processing requirements for something to always be listening to any random question would be enormous, not to mention the intelligence to separate conversations you want to have with it and random other conversations and sounds.
If you’re worried about your TV tracking what you’re watching, that’s probably the least offensive device that’s tracking you. Your phone and your web browser know vastly more about you.
That processing (to determine what’s a wake word and what isn’t) is being done in the device. It has to be in order for it to be responsive. So both sides are right because, yes, the TV is “always listening,” but from LG’s point of view, it’s only listening for certain words, so what’s the problem?
An additional wrinkle is automatic content recognition, but I’ll get to that in the next section.
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Could the TV’s microphones be used for more nefarious purposes? Sure, but again, that’s true of anything with a microphone and internet connection. If you really want to lose sleep, head down the rabbit hole of how bad some of the security is on these and other devices. Everything from web cams, security cameras and even routers have all been hacked due to mediocre security precautions.
Does LG need to up their security, given that these researchers hacked a TV easily? Again, sure, but so do most other companies. If it seems like I’m trying to carry water for LG, trust me, I’m not. My point of view is not “but LG isn’t that bad”; it’s that “they’re all bad — broaden your focus.”
What is automatic content recognition?
ACR uses snippets of video or, in some cases like LG, audio to determine what you’re watching. This short clip is compared to a database of known content to figure out if you’re watching Deadliest Catch, Love Island, some video game or any other content. They use this for “audience segmentation and viewing or audience trend analysis,” and if you enable another opt-in agreement, they’ll also use it for “personalized, interest-based advertisements.” It was the LG’s combination of both ACR and onboard microphones that GamersNexus was able to exploit in its hack video.
Sarah Lord/CNET
The focus by LG (and, again, most other companies do this too) on these features being “opt-in” could be a little mealymouthed. How many people just agree to everything during the excitement of setting up a new device? How many of you read the fine print in everything you click on?
We all know the answer to that. One of the only ways to minimize your TV’s tracking is to dig through your TV’s many settings and to disable anything that sounds like advertising or tracking. Somewhat ironically, Google can be a help here if you’re unsure with the wording or what a feature does.
It’s worth pointing out that ACR is the next step in TV companies being able to tell what you’re watching. Previously, they only knew what you watched if you used the built-in apps (for the most part). Now everything, including over the air broadcasts and anything connected via HDMI, including media streamers and game consoles, can theoretically be identified and used to serve you ads, track behavior and so on.
This is, understandably, even more annoying as it means the TV can be “watching” you regardless of what you’re watching on it. Because these are also snippets of audio, it’s another aspect that causes concerns for privacy advocates. It’s worth keeping in mind that TVs are still comparatively cheap because companies can potentially make more money selling you ads.
What can you do?
Peter Finch/Getty Images
We have a whole guide to make your TV dumb, but I hate to be the bearer of bad news: This is only a tiny piece of the problem pie. You can’t eliminate this ever-present tracking, only mitigate it. If you’re worried about your TV tracking what you’re watching, that’s probably the least offensive device that’s tracking you. Your phone and your web browser know vastly more about you. Your internet and cell providers, the websites you go to, all can and often do track you as well. The diligence needed to stealthily wander the modern connected world is somewhere between hobby and part-time job. Good luck.
Sure, you can leave your TV offline, but if you still want streaming services, you’ll need some sort of media streamer. The most popular, Roku, sells everything possible about you. If you think Google and Amazon don’t gobble up everything they can, too, I have a bridge to sell you. Apple TV is the best for this, but keep in mind every streaming service on the device is tracking you as well.
Which is to say, the horse has left the barn on this tracking thing. The horse can’t even see the barn. The damn barn is a dot to that horse. Far too many people are making far too much money to roll any of this back. So mitigate whatever makes you feel comfortable, but if you want to use the internet in the modern age, this is the cost. Sorry. Don’t shoot the messenger. Buy DVDs or Blu-ray, and get a dumb TV, I guess.
Geoffrey Morrison
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