LG's recent software update has forcibly installed Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant, on smart TVs without removal options, sparking widespread user backlash over privacy, bloatware, and loss of control. This highlights growing tensions in smart devices, where monetization often overrides user preferences.
Yup. Make sure it’s not a “smart” TV with a WiFi connection. LG was one of three TV companies (Visio and Samsung were the others) that got caught spying on their TVs HDMI connection and sending usage data on connected devices back to their manufacturers through the WiFi connection.
A wifi connection to where? Were people using unprotected networks?
Vision TVs have built-in WiFi to promote their own, garbage tier streaming service. So you need to connect it to your home WiFi network to use it. But they can also monitor the TVs HDMI port.
So if you have a Roku or a DVD player connected to it, the TV can monitor what’s coming into the HDMI port and then use your WiFi connection to send that info home.
I noticed the Visio is very aggressive about you enabling the WiFi connection even if you just want to use it as a monitor. (i.e. if you disable the TVs WiFi, it will nag you to turn it back on every time you turn the TV on and not let you use the TV until you do it). I’m guessing this is deliberate because Visio values collecting the HDMI data more than their streaming service.