LG TVs have been caught scanning home networks, identifying devices including smartwatches and phones, according to a study by Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs. The research, which included examining the LG G5 OLED TV, revealed that these devices can track every Wi-Fi network within range, along with the internal IP addresses of other devices on the network, even when not connected to the TV. While LG claims this feature is for enhancing connectivity and smart home functionality, the extent of data collection remains concerning.

The company’s ad business, LG Ad Solutions, has marketed its ability to reach 363 million ‘addressable secondary devices’ in the US, suggesting a vast network of potential data points. However, it’s unclear if this data is used for anything beyond advertising or if it’s all sent back to LG. The fact that these devices are sitting in unsuspecting owners’ homes, gathering information, raises ethical questions about privacy and data rights.

Steve Burke from Gamers Nexus said, ‘The [G5] crawled our entire network and found dozens of unrelated devices, including smartwatches and phones of our staff who didn’t even know we were working on this.’ This finding highlights the potential for smart TVs to become a significant data collection point, blurring the lines between convenience and invasion of privacy.

The implications of this research extend beyond just LG. As smart home devices become more prevalent, the need for transparent and user-friendly privacy policies is greater than ever. This study serves as a stark reminder that the smart home could be a surveillance network in our living rooms.