LG Electronics has issued a global statement pushing back against reports alleging its smart TVs log ambient conversations when their TV’s are turned off and is harvesting vast amounts of consumer data, claiming recent media coverage has contributed to “misconceptions” about how its devices function.

They have admitted that they are collecting data.

Last year LG management in Australia banned technology publications ChannelNews and SmartHouse from media briefings and access following the outlets’ refusal to retract reports exposing the tech giant’s consumer data harvesting practices now 18 months on LG Electronics is finally responding to their questionable practises.

The blacklist following our original story, came after ChannelNews published reports detailing how LG’s Smart TV operating system, webOS, utilizes Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) software to continuously monitor, analyze, and profit from consumer viewing habits.

According to the reports, the technology captures screen activity across broadcast channels, streaming applications, and connected external HDMI devices such as gaming consoles and personal computers.

Following the publication of the findings, LG Electronics Australia Marketing Director Gemma Lemieux went to her Managing Director demanding that ChannelNews take down the stories, labeling them “inaccurate”.

When we refused to comply with the retraction demand, LG responded by cutting media access and banning both ChannelNews and its sister publication, SmartHouse.

LG Electronics Australia Marketing Director Gemma Lemieux

In the latest corporate defense which comes in the wake of investigations published by media outlets ChannelNews, Gamers Nexus, and Level1Techs, as well as independent security researchers, detailing how LG’s webOS platform monitors, logs, and transmits user data the Company has finally responded.

LG Electronics South Korea not LG Electronics Australia Marketing Director Gemma Lemieux denied that its hardware continuously monitors owners, stating that speech-to-text processing only activates via explicit remote control button presses or supported wake-words.

“Audio used for wake-word detection is processed locally on the TV,” LG said in a statement. “If no wake word is detected, audio is not converted to text, stored, or transmitted.”

Security Researchers

However, security researchers from Gamers Nexus demonstrated LG TVs retaining extensive logs of ambient household conversations long after voice-assistant sessions had ended.

Critics noted LG’s reliance on the word “continuously” leaves leeway for extensive intermittent data capture.

LG admitted that voice recognition results and technical logs are generated during active sessions and confirmed that viewing habits are commercialized.

The company acknowledged that where Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is enabled:

Audio Fingerprinting:

ACR uses internal processors to fingerprint audio for audience segmentation and trend analysis.

Third-Party Data Sharing: ACR-related viewing data is shared with majority-owned affiliate LG Ad Solutions and third-party service providers.

Commercial Data Sales: LG conceded that under applicable privacy laws, its data transfers may be legally classified as a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information for targeted and cross-device advertising.

While LG maintains features like ACR, voice recognition, and interest-based advertising are optional, consumer advocates note that opt-out controls are buried within lengthy terms of service during initial setup rather than clearly presented to users.

The response from global management failed to address specific data collection practices in regional markets, including Australia, or detail the vetting procedures used before selling consumer data to third-party brokers.

The latest controversy follows the ongoing feud between the tech giant and ChannelNews.

LG has not clarified whether it plans to update its webOS interface to make privacy controls more explicit during device activation instead of burying approval in hundreds of words of small print.