216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#721

Post by FireBeyond » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:13 AM UTC

Eji1700 wrote: post #84

Lio wrote: post #44

In an age where AI can search vast amounts of data having something in your home or workplace turning what it hears into text looks like a problem waiting to happen. E.g. As soon as someone proves LG, Samsung, etc. recorded and stored credit card details and knowingly have weak security this is going to be a massive business liability. That's an easy one to put a compensation figure on but there's probably all sorts…

You would think that would matter, that they’re basically violating all known PII/HIPAA/GDPR/National security standards and god knows what else, but I expect at most some class action down the line.

> HIPAA

They're not directly or a business associate of an entity involved in providing you healthcare so not this.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#722

Post by FireBeyond » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:13 AM UTC

account42 wrote: post #380

fanatic2pope wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can get USB controlled CEC injectors for HDMI. https://www.pulse-eight.com/p/104/usb-hdmi-cec-adapter

For a 4K120Hz TV I'd be worried about this adding signal integrity issues - "all versions of HDMI®, including HDMI® 2.0a" doesn't inspire confidence.

My understanding is that CEC can be received on any alive interface, not just the active.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#723

Post by Gigachad » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:17 AM UTC

korzinka wrote: post #107

I've bought an LG Smart TV 5 years ago, read t&c where I was supposed to grant them any data they wanted, decided to disagree and kept all network functions disabled. I was ridiculed by my friends for that. At some point, I thought - maybe I'm really crazy to do so? Who am I, a caveman, a luddite? Oh well, I'm not. Not a bad tv though, many HDMI ports!

I think the worst part is that most devices give you no option to disagree.

I bought a DJI action camera, I had watched a bunch of reviews and read the store page. Yet only after buying and turning it on did I discover the device only allows you to use it 5 times before connecting it to the internet and signing up for an account.

There aren’t even any features that require this, it simply bricks itself after the 5th use until you sign up and agree to the terms.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#724

Post by gblargg » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:17 AM UTC

throw93947309 wrote: post #123

korzinka wrote: post #107

I've bought an LG Smart TV 5 years ago, read t&c where I was supposed to grant them any data they wanted, decided to disagree and kept all network functions disabled. I was ridiculed by my friends for that. At some point, I thought - maybe I'm really crazy to do so? Who am I, a caveman, a luddite? Oh well, I'm not. Not a bad tv though, many HDMI ports!

This. Why would you even connect TV to the network? It is well known for like 5 years. Smsrt TVs go through your movies library, and upload screenshots and filenames to internet. Some will start showing ads after firmware upgrade.

I was going to suggest updating firmware initially right after your purchase, but that could also update a list of Wi-Fi credentials so it can continue to connect to the Internet using other nearby access points.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#725

Post by gblargg » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:20 AM UTC

account42 wrote: post #350

wavesplash wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Watch the video the article is based on - not connecting to the internet doesn't keep you safe in many cases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IFVTcM28KA

"Watch this two hour long video" is not a particularly useful reply. If you think the TV can exfiltrate your data without an internet connection then you should be able to explain how it could do that in your own words.

That's what the Ask button is for with the summarize option, to not have to watch unnecessarily-long videos. Apparently it does connect to public hotspots, often run by major providers.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#726

Post by Gigachad » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:22 AM UTC

hvb2 wrote: post #487

kolinko wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on jurisdiction, just because someone wrote something in a contract doesn’t mean it’s binding. In Poland/EU we have an (ever growing) list of forbidden clauses that even when written and signed by consumer are null and void. And I think these can be enacted retroactively - when corporations invent new shady clauses, government steps in and tells them these are invalid. This helps to even out the consumer-corp…

> we have an (ever growing) list of forbidden clauses that even when written and signed by consumer are null and void I'm pretty sure that's true almost everywhere. Law beats contract. The real question is how strong the laws are. In the US not so much because of small government and stuff, especially in red states.

The US is not small government at all. It’s one of the largest governments in the world. It just exists almost exclusively to serve billionaires.

It’s “small government” when it comes to protecting your individual rights, and full flock powered ai surveillance state when someone has an abortion.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#727

Post by toofy » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:26 AM UTC

Zobat wrote: post #403

I managed to watch 14 minutes of the Gamer Nexus video (on my computer) before going into the living room and disconnecting the network cable, OMFG. If there's no legal consequences for LG for this I'll be surprised. I'm in Europe, not counting on the US for this, trust me.

i honestly don’t believe i’m being jaded when i say this: there will be no consequences. in this current moment, companies can treat us however they like.

again, i don’t think that’s hyperbolic or jaded, i think it’s much more based in reality than the opposite.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#728

Post by zzo38computer » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:27 AM UTC

Most TV sets should not normally need microphones, and if they have that in some models (as long as there are models without), then there should be a hardware switch to disable them. However, "continuously sweep home networks, map secondary devices, and log microphone audio while appearing to be turned off" is also stealing and wasting your power.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#729

Post by DrPhish » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:30 AM UTC

zzo38computer wrote: post #728

Most TV sets should not normally need microphones, and if they have that in some models (as long as there are models without), then there should be a hardware switch to disable them. However, "continuously sweep home networks, map secondary devices, and log microphone audio while appearing to be turned off" is also stealing and wasting your power.

Every speaker is also a microphone

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#730

Post by mancerayder » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 1:35 AM UTC

drnick1 wrote: post #471

declan_roberts wrote: post #460

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just keep the TV completely disconnected and use something like an Apple TV.

What makes you think the Apple TV isn't also spying on you? It almost certainly is collecting telemetry too. Whether that's more or less than LG I don't know, but my preference is a Linux box with Plasma Bigscreen.

What do you use when you switch between Netflix, AppleTV, etc? Some of those platforms won't even show you HD unless it's through HDCP compliant hardware and OS, which Linux isn't. That happened with the World Cup.