Have you ever turned off your television, seen the screen go black, and assumed the device was no longer doing anything?
That assumption may not be safe.
A September 2026 investigation by hardware reviewers, security researchers, and technology reporters has raised serious questions about LG TV recording audio while the screen is off or the television appears to be in standby. The researchers allege that some LG smart TVs captured audio locally, stored it when disconnected from the internet, and uploaded it after reconnecting.
LG strongly denies recording ambient conversations. The company says voice data is processed only when users activate voice control or use a wake word. LG has also described network scanning as a standard smart TV function used to find phones, watches, and other connected devices.
So what should you believe? More importantly, what should you do?
The situation is still disputed, but it highlights a broader truth: a smart TV is not just a screen. It is a networked computer with software, microphones, data-collection features, and connections to your home or business network.
What the LG TV recording audio investigation alleges
The investigation centered on retail LG televisions running webOS, including newer OLED models. The researchers used network monitoring and controlled testing to examine what happened when the television was powered down or placed in standby.
According to the Gamers Nexus investigation and related reporting, the observed behavior included:
- Microphone activity while the display was off
- Audio captured while the television was disconnected from the internet
- Local storage or buffering of data until connectivity returned
- Uploading of stored information after the TV reconnected
- Scanning of the local network for phones, smartwatches, and other devices
- Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, that identifies viewing activity
This is the core of the LG TV recording audio concern. If the findings are accurate, a television that appears inactive may still be functioning as a listening and data-collection device.
That does not necessarily mean every LG TV is secretly recording every conversation. Model, software version, settings, and user agreements may all matter. However, the testing has created a reasonable privacy question for anyone who keeps a smart TV in a room where sensitive conversations take place.
What LG says about smart TV listening
LG has rejected the central accusation.
The company says its televisions do not record ambient conversations. According to LG, voice processing is activated when a user presses and holds the voice button on the remote or uses a wake word after enabling far-field voice recognition.
LG also says wake-word detection happens locally and that audio is deleted when the wake word is not recognized. The company characterizes network scanning as a normal smart TV feature that supports device discovery and connectivity.
As reported by The Register, LG has also disputed claims that its advertising systems use the television in the way researchers described.
The important point is that two interpretations currently exist:
- LG’s position: Voice features activate only under specific conditions, and network scanning supports ordinary smart home functions.
- The researchers’ position: Testing showed behavior consistent with audio capture and storage beyond what users would reasonably expect from a TV in standby.
Until the technical dispute is fully resolved, the sensible response is not panic. It is risk reduction.
If your television is in a bedroom, living room, conference room, waiting room, or office where private conversations occur, review its settings and network access.
ACR is another form of smart TV tracking
The LG TV recording audio issue has received attention because microphones feel personal. But many smart TVs already collect detailed information about what you watch through Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR.
ACR can identify programming, advertisements, and other content displayed on the screen. Depending on the television and the permissions you accept, the information may be used for recommendations, advertising, analytics, or audience measurement.
On LG televisions, ACR has commonly been associated with features such as Live Plus and Viewing Information. On Samsung televisions, a similar feature is called Viewing Information Services.
Samsung’s official documentation says ACR is optional and can collect information such as viewing history, viewing duration, device identifiers, and IP address when enabled. Samsung also says users can opt out through the television’s settings.
ACR is not the same as the LG TV recording audio allegation. ACR is primarily about recognizing what appears on the screen. Microphone privacy is about audio from the room. However, both features demonstrate why a smart TV deserves the same privacy review as any other connected device.
Why this matters to businesses
A television in a business is easy to overlook. It may sit in a reception area, break room, treatment room, conference room, or executive office. It may connect to Wi-Fi once and then remain untouched for years.
That creates potential privacy and security problems.
Imagine an LG television in a medical office. A patient discusses symptoms in a room where a connected TV is installed. Or picture a legal conference room where attorneys discuss strategy. In a financial office, employees might talk about account information, transactions, or confidential business plans.
A TV that listens could create legal, regulatory, and reputational concerns even if no one intended to enable recording.
There is also a network-security risk. A smart TV may run outdated software, connect to cloud services, scan other devices, and share the same network as business computers, printers, servers, and file storage. If the TV is compromised, it may provide an attacker with a foothold for further activity.
That is why businesses should include televisions in their technology inventory and security reviews. Pinkston Technologies helps organizations take a broader view through managed security services and managed IT services.
How to improve your smart TV privacy
Menu names differ by manufacturer, model, and software version. Still, these steps provide a useful starting point.
1. Disable ACR and viewing information
On an LG television, look for settings such as:
- Live Plus
- Viewing Information
- User Agreements
- Privacy & Terms
- Interest-Based Advertisement
- Content Recommendations
On many models, Live Plus can be found under a path similar to:
Settings → All Settings → General → System or Additional Settings → Live Plus
You may also need to review User Agreements and withdraw consent for Viewing Information, Live Plus, and interest-based advertising.
On Samsung televisions, look under a path similar to:
Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Terms & Privacy → Viewing Information Services
The exact location may vary. The Consumer Reports smart TV privacy guide provides additional model-specific examples.
2. Turn off voice recognition and far-field listening
If you do not use voice commands, disable them.
Look for options such as:
- Voice Recognition
- Far-Field Voice
- Voice Assistant
- Voice Wake-Up
- AI Service
- Microphone
- Voice Information
A remote control with a voice button does not necessarily mean the TV is always listening. However, disabling voice features reduces the number of active services and makes your privacy settings easier to understand.
Check the settings again after major software updates. Updates can add features or change the location of privacy controls.
3. Disconnect the TV from the internet
If you only use the television with cable, an antenna, game console, Blu-ray player, or another HDMI device, continuous internet access may not be necessary.
You can:
- Remove the TV from Wi-Fi
- Unplug the Ethernet cable
- Disable Wi-Fi in network settings
- Place the TV on a guest network or dedicated IoT network
- Block unnecessary traffic through your business firewall
This is the strongest practical response to the LG TV recording audio concern because a disconnected television cannot upload data in real time.
CISA recommends evaluating whether continuous connectivity is necessary, keeping software updated, reviewing security settings, and disconnecting internet-connected devices when connectivity is not needed. Read the agency’s guidance for securing new internet-connected devices.
4. Use an external streaming device
You can disconnect the television’s built-in smart platform and use an external device such as a Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV Stick through HDMI.
This does not eliminate privacy concerns entirely. External streaming devices collect data too, and some remotes include microphones. Review the device’s privacy settings before connecting it.
Still, this approach can reduce the TV’s built-in services, network activity, and microphone exposure. It also allows you to replace the streaming device without replacing the display.
5. Unplug the TV when privacy matters most
Turning off the screen is not the same as removing power.
For a television in a confidential room, consider unplugging it when it is not needed. A smart plug can make this easier, provided the plug is compatible with the TV and does not create another security concern.
This is especially useful in medical, legal, financial, and executive environments where conversations may involve sensitive information.
Treat every smart TV like a networked computer
The LG TV recording audio debate is a reminder that connected devices deserve attention even when they are not central to your business.
For homes, that means reviewing privacy controls, limiting unnecessary features, and separating smart devices from important computers where possible.
For businesses, it means maintaining an inventory of every connected television, checking its firmware, documenting its network location, and deciding whether it belongs on the main network at all.
A good baseline includes:
- Use a strong password for the manufacturer account
- Enable multi-factor authentication when available
- Install firmware updates
- Remove unused applications
- Disable remote access and unnecessary discovery features
- Place the TV on a guest network or IoT segment
- Review microphone and camera permissions
- Recheck privacy settings after updates
- Factory-reset the device before selling or disposing of it
The goal is not to make every device impossible to use. It is to make sure convenience does not quietly create a privacy, security, or liability problem.
Final thoughts
The claims surrounding LG TV recording audio remain contested. LG says its televisions do not record ambient conversations, while researchers say their testing showed audio capture and later uploading while the TV appeared to be powered down.
That disagreement is enough to justify a closer look.
Disable ACR. Turn off voice recognition if you do not need it. Disconnect the TV from the internet when smart features are unnecessary. In a business, isolate the television from sensitive systems and keep it out of rooms where confidential conversations take place unless its privacy controls have been carefully reviewed.
A television should entertain or inform you( not become an overlooked security risk.)