A television that samples what's on screen, logs nearby Wi-Fi networks and catalogs every phone, printer and speaker on the home network is a surveillance device sold as entertainment. Researchers showed a compromised set capturing audio while it appeared off, and even stashing it until the connection returned. Bragging to advertisers about owning the glass says everything about who the customer really is.
The eavesdropping panic falls apart under scrutiny. LG TVs only handle voice data when the remote's mic button is held or a wake word is spoken, and unrecognized audio is deleted locally without ever reaching a server. Scanning for nearby devices is standard on every smart TV, and anyone uneasy about ad tracking can switch Live Plus off in a few taps.
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