LG TV Spying Claims: Every Smart TV Tracks You, Not Just LG

The Gamers Nexus Video and Its Claims

The TV world has been a pot of controversy thanks to a two-hour-and-15-minute video from Gamers Nexus claiming LG TVs are nefariously spying on everything you do. According to the video, these sets can record and store audio even when they seem to be off, track everything you watch, and could even be hacked remotely and turned into covert surveillance devices.

LG TV owners, and tech enthusiasts in general, are furious. A hurried response from LG has done little to calm the situation.

Some of the claims in the video may be based on speculation and assumptions, but many of the core concerns are real and pervasive. While LG was the focus of the video, every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners. And we agree to it — even if we don’t realize it.

Which Claims Are Speculation vs. Real

Some of the claims in the video may be based on speculation and assumptions, but many of the core concerns are real and pervasive. While LG was the focus of the video, every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners. And we agree to it — even if we don’t realize it.

Every TV Company Tracks You, Not Just LG

LG may have been the focus of the Gamers Nexus video, but it is far from the only offender. As John Higgins notes in The Verge, every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners. Not every smart TV is as easily hackable as Gamers Nexus claims LG's are, but they all track what you watch unless you opt out.

That distinction matters. The more alarming claims in the video — remote hacking, covert audio recording while the TV appears off — may rest on speculation and assumptions. But the routine collection and sharing of viewing data is not speculation at all. It is standard practice across the industry.

So while LG TV owners have plenty of company in their frustration, the problem is bigger than any single brand. If you own a smart TV from any manufacturer, the same core concerns apply.

You Agree to Tracking, Even If You Don't Realize It

The uncomfortable truth is that most of us consented to this surveillance without ever reading the terms. When you unbox a new TV and rush through the initial setup screens, you're presented with a wall of options about data collection, viewing habits, and personalized advertising. Many people tap "accept" on everything just to reach the home screen faster.

That's by design. The consent flow is tedious, and opting out is possible, but it requires deliberately navigating menus that manufacturers don't exactly spotlight. Decline the tracking, and you may lose access to certain features or see nagging prompts encouraging you to reconsider.

This isn't unique to LG. Every TV company is tracking what you do, collecting that data, and sharing it with its partners — and we agree to it, even if we don't realize it. The Gamers Nexus video put LG in the spotlight, but the real story is that the entire smart TV industry operates on the same bargain: convenience and features in exchange for your viewing data.