Summary
LG says its smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit household conversations. The company describes wake-word detection as local and says voice recognition, automatic content recognition and interest-based advertising are controlled through settings and user consent.
Contents
- What LG says about voice processing
- ACR is a separate, opt-in data function
- Device discovery, advertising and privacy controls
- What the statement means for TV owners
What LG says about voice processing
In a statement published on September 12, 2026, LG said its smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit users' conversations. The company describes voice control as a two-stage process: local wake-word detection followed by a speech-recognition session that begins only after activation.
Wake-word detection is a limited form of audio processing. The TV checks for a predefined activation phrase rather than converting an entire conversation into text. According to LG, this check takes place locally on the TV. If the wake word is not detected, the audio is not converted to text, stored or transmitted, and is promptly discarded.
On supported models with hands-free voice control enabled, the TV may monitor for the wake word while in standby mode. LG says this standby monitoring is limited to detecting the activation phrase. A supported remote can also start voice recognition when the user deliberately presses its microphone button.
Once a wake word is recognised or the remote microphone button is pressed, speech-to-text processing begins. LG says an active session ends after approximately 10 seconds if no speech is detected, or when the system judges that speech has concluded. The maximum session duration is approximately 18 seconds.
The company also acknowledges that speech or nearby sounds occurring during an active voice-recognition session may appear in the recognition results. For TVs that are offline, LG says voice data is not stored for later upload and is not transmitted when connectivity is restored.
Some supported models include a hardware microphone switch that disables the built-in microphone used for hands-free voice recognition. The remote-control microphone can remain available if it is enabled and deliberately activated. Feature availability and control options vary by model and market.
ACR is a separate, opt-in data function
LG distinguishes voice recognition from Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR. ACR identifies the programme or other content being displayed so that viewing information can support audience analysis and related services.
LG describes its ACR system as audio fingerprinting. The TV's internal audio processor extracts a compact representation of sound characteristics from the content and compares it with reference data. This is different from storing a full audio recording.
According to LG, ACR is turned off by default. Users must accept a Viewing Information Agreement to enable it, and can later withdraw consent or disable the feature through the TV's settings.
On supported sources, ACR may operate with live television, HDMI-connected devices and LG Channels. LG says it does not operate inside third-party streaming applications such as Netflix or YouTube accessed through LG Apps.
The company says ACR does not collect or store voice recordings, other audio recordings, screenshots, screen images or video recordings from the TV. Where ACR is enabled, related information may be used for audience segmentation and viewing or audience-trend analysis.
Interest-based advertising and cross-device advertising are presented as separate services. LG says these functions require consent under a separate Interest-Based Cross Device Advertising Agreement. This distinction matters because enabling content recognition is not described as automatic consent to every advertising use.
Device discovery, advertising and privacy controls
LG also separates device discovery from ACR and advertising. Device discovery is used to recognise, connect and control compatible external devices, such as equipment connected to the TV. LG says it is not used for household profiling, cross-device targeting or advertising segmentation.
Nearby Wi-Fi information is handled separately from device discovery. LG says information about nearby access points and signal strength may help estimate approximate location for ACR services where ACR is available and enabled.
Depending on the market, applicable agreements and user choices, LG says ACR-related viewing information may be shared with LG Ad Solutions, a majority-owned affiliate. The stated purposes include audience segmentation, viewing and audience-trend analysis, and separately consented advertising functions. LG says voice-audio and ambient-audio data are not provided to LG Ad Solutions as part of its advertising services.
The company also says some ACR-related information may be treated as a sale or sharing of personal information under privacy laws in certain markets. Where applicable, users may exercise opt-out rights, including Do Not Sell requests.
The statement presents these services as separate data-processing functions rather than one unified monitoring system: voice control handles wake-word or remote activation, ACR identifies content, device discovery manages compatible equipment, and advertising services use information subject to their own agreements and choices.
What the statement means for TV owners
LG says users can review, manage, modify or withdraw optional agreements through TV settings. Depending on the market, declining these agreements should still allow access to core functions such as streaming applications, live television, HDMI devices and software updates.
For users concerned about voice control, the relevant controls include the hands-free voice setting, deliberate use of the remote microphone and, on supported models, the physical microphone switch. For users concerned about viewing-data processing, ACR can be disabled in the TV settings and its separate agreement can be withdrawn.
The practical settings differ by model, country and webOS version. LG's statement is a company description of its intended privacy and data-handling practices, rather than an independent technical audit of every TV implementation.
LG also says eligible TV products receive security updates for up to five years from the initial release of the applicable webOS platform version, subject to product-support policies and applicable requirements. Keeping a supported TV updated is therefore a separate privacy and security consideration from choosing whether to enable voice, ACR or advertising services.