LG is pushing back against allegations that its smart TVs secretly record users' conversations. The controversy erupted after a Gamers Nexus YouTube video claimed LG TVs capture audio while idle or offline, along with device data, IP addresses, locations, and nearby Wi-Fi networks. LG denies continuous recording, stating its TVs only listen locally for a wake word when hands-free voice control is enabled. Audio without the wake word is discarded locally and never sent to LG servers.

The company also addressed Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), which uses audio fingerprinting to identify content for audience analysis. LG says ACR is optional, requires user consent, and can be disabled in settings. However, critics note that denying "continuous" recording isn't the same as denying all recording.

This follows a separate issue where LG monitors installed the LG Monitor App Installer on Windows PCs, displaying McAfee promotional pop-ups. Microsoft intervened, prompting LG to disable the promotion. The disputes highlight growing tension between smart features and data privacy, with advocates likely monitoring future webOS updates closely.