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Your LG TV is constantly collecting your data – here’s how to stop it

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Your LG TV is constantly collecting your data – here’s how to stop it

Factory resetting your LG TV is the only way to remove certain data logs from its hardware.

A few weeks ago, YouTube channel Gamers Nexus dropped an explosive two-hour video exposing just how extensive LG’s TV data collection has become. With ultra-sensitive microphones that are always listening and extensive user activity logs, your living room has become a data farm where you are the cash crop. And it’s not just LG; just about every major TV brand engages in some data collection either for sale to third-party advertisers or for internal marketing.

Also: This LG TV jailbreak turns smart devices into spies, say researchers

But what exactly are they collecting, and what are they doing with it?

Manufacturers realized long ago that while a smart TV is a one-time sale, data collection can provide an ongoing profit stream. With the recent push for more integration, brands have even more resources for their data collection efforts.

Also: OLED TV vs. OLED monitor: Which is better for creatives, gamers, or power users?

On its website, LG AdSolutions reveals that there are 49 million LG smart TVs currently operating in the US and 216 million used around the globe. That’s a lot of data, which is used primarily to serve up a continually rotating carousel of targeted ads and media recommendations. Beneath the surface, however, is some fairly sophisticated code for tracking truly sensitive data, even utilizing your home Wi-Fi network to determine your location. And this method can be accurate to within 10 meters.


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