LG TVs Log Ambient Conversations

Researchers report that some LG smart televisions keep logs of ambient audio and conversation metadata even when users expect privacy or when the device is offline or on standby. LG responds that wake‑word detection and speech processing happen locally and that optional features are off by default, but the mismatch between researcher evidence and vendor claims raises questions about what 'local processing' and 'optional' actually mean in practice. — If smart‑TV vendors can log ambient audio while claiming local, optional processing, regulators, security practitioners, and consumers need clearer rules for device auditing, disclosure, and liability to protect privacy and prevent misuse.