It’s Not Just LG: Every Smart TV Company Is Tracking What You Watch

The Smart TV Privacy Problem Goes Beyond LG

Not every smart TV is as easily hackable as Gamers Nexus claims LG's are. But virtually all of them track what you watch — unless you actively opt out.

What Gamers Nexus Found

A recent investigation by Gamers Nexus highlighted how LG's smart TVs can be exploited through their automatic content recognition (ACR) systems. The findings raised alarms about the security of always-connected televisions. However, the core issue — pervasive viewing data collection — is an industry-wide practice, not an LG-specific flaw.

How Smart TVs Track You

Nearly every major TV manufacturer — including Samsung, Vizio, TCL, Hisense, Sony, and LG — uses ACR technology. This software captures screenshots of your screen at regular intervals, identifies the content being displayed, and reports that data back to the manufacturer and its advertising partners.

This data can reveal:

• What shows and movies you watch
• When and for how long you watch them
• Which streaming services and apps you use
• Your advertising exposure

The information is then used to build detailed viewer profiles for targeted advertising.

It’s Not Just About Hacking

While Gamers Nexus focused on the relative ease of compromising LG TVs, the more mundane reality is that all smart TVs collect viewing data by default. This collection is often buried in privacy policies and terms of service that users accept without reading. The data is then shared with third parties, including data brokers and advertisers.

How to Protect Your Privacy

You can take steps to limit smart TV tracking:

1. Opt out of ACR: In your TV's settings, look for terms like "Viewing Information," "Live Plus," "ACR," or "Smart Interactivity" and disable them.
2. Disconnect from the internet: If you don't need smart features, don't connect your TV to Wi-Fi. Use a streaming device instead.
3. Use a network-level blocker: Tools like Pi-hole can block tracking domains at the router level.
4. Review privacy settings: After setup, go back through all privacy and advertising settings and turn off personalized ads and data collection.
5. Consider a commercial display: Some businesses use commercial-grade displays that lack smart TV tracking.



The Bottom Line




LG may have made headlines for its vulnerabilities, but the reality is that every major TV brand engages in some form of viewing data collection. As 2026 approaches, with smart TVs becoming more integrated into home networks and AI-driven advertising growing more sophisticated, consumers should assume their viewing habits are being monitored unless they take deliberate action to stop it.




The responsibility currently falls on users to navigate complex settings and opt out. Until regulation catches up, staying informed and proactive is the best defense.

via The Verge