Actually, LG conducts the data collection for its Smart Ad function, which advertisers can use to see when it is best to target their products at the most suitable audience.
LG Smart Ad analyses users favorite programs, online behavior, search keywords and other information to offer relevant ads to target audiences. For example, LG Smart Ad can feature sharp suits to men, or alluring cosmetics and fragrances for women.
After inspecting the outgoing traffic from his smart TV, DoctorBeet noticed that a unique device ID, along with the TV channel name was being transmitted each time he changed channels.
His investigation also indicated that the TVs uploaded information about the contents of devices attached to the TV. He also claims that the data being sent is unencrypted.
To demonstrate this, I created a mock avi file and copied it to a USB stick.
An option exists in the TV settings to turn off this collection, however DoctorBeet notes that it does nothing. LG's privacy policy doesn't give LG customers any way to opt out of this data collection.
If you do not want us to share your personally identifiable information in this manner, please do not provide us with this information.
He mentioned that the URL the TV was sending the information to was not live, but LG could turn it on tomorrow.
LG's privacy policy states that LG collects personally identifiable information including names, emails, physical addresses and company names and also non-personally identifiable information such as IP addresses and product information.
A spokesperson for LG told Engadget: We're looking into this now. We take these claims very seriously and are currently investigating the situation at numerous local levels since our Smart TVs differ in features and functions from one market to another. We work hard to get privacy right and have made this our top priority.
A spokesperson for LG told Engadget: We're looking into this now. We take these claims very seriously and are currently investigating the situation at numerous local levels since our Smart TVs differ in features and functions from one market to another. We work hard to get privacy right and have made this our top priority.
