Is Your Smart TV Spying on You? Change These Settings

To stop your smart TV from spying on you, turn off automatic content recognition (ACR), disable voice controls and personalized ads you don’t use, and place the TV on a separate Wi-Fi network. Disconnecting it from the internet entirely ensures your privacy, though you will lose its built-in streaming functionality and automatic updates.

It’s no secret that smart TVs can collect data about what you watch, what you say, and which devices share your network. They may not have cameras on you, but it’s still worth checking your model for classic surveillance tells. Here’s how smart TV tracking works and which settings are worth changing.

What your smart TV collects

Automatic content recognition (ACR) creates digital fingerprints from content playing on your TV and matches them against a database to identify what you are watching. Depending on the manufacturer, it may sample the picture, the audio, or both.

ACR may identify content from cable, an antenna, a Blu-ray player, a game console, or a laptop connected through HDMI. Manufacturers and their partners can use that viewing history for audience measurement, recommendations, and advertising.

Some TVs also process voice input. They may perform network scanning, meaning the TV looks for compatible devices on the same Wi-Fi network so they can connect or communicate.

A September 2026 investigation into LG TVs raised questions about how much information these features can expose, including audio logs and details about neighboring networks and devices.

Can someone see you through your smart TV?

Probably not. It’s unlikely that someone can see you through your smart TV. Built-in cameras have largely disappeared from modern TVs, although certain models and add-on accessories support video calls, gesture controls, or fitness features. A TV without a camera can’t secretly film you.

Check instead of guessing. Older models like Samsung’s F8000 series placed a retractable camera along the top bezel. Look for a small lens on your TV’s top bezel, then search your exact model number on the manufacturer’s website to confirm whether your TV has a built-in camera.

Today, cameras are often sold as add-on accessories, typically mounted above the screen.

If your set does have a camera, disable it when you’re not using it. A physical privacy shutter is best. A removable piece of opaque tape (or a bandage) also blocks the lens, although it will not stop the camera’s microphone.

Can your TV hear you?

Your TV can hear you if voice features are enabled. Hands-free controls listen locally for a wake phrase such as “Hi LG.” Other sets listen after you press the microphone button.

In its 2026 investigation, Gamers Nexus reported finding microphone audio and plain-text voice logs on tested LG TVs, including data associated with standby use. Researchers said a disconnected set retained data and transmitted it after reconnecting.

LG rejects that its TVs record ambient conversations. It says voice recognition is optional and deletes audio without the wake word locally. On supported models, a hardware microphone switch provides the clearest cutoff.

Quick tip: A dark screen is not the same as a powerless TV. Disable hands-free voice control or use the hardware microphone switch if you do not want standby listening.

How to stop your smart TV from spying on you

1. Turn off ACR

Menu locations vary by model and updates. Search the Privacy, Terms and Privacy, or Privacy Settings menu for the label below.

TV brand or platform	ACR setting to switch off
Samsung	Viewing Information Services
LG	Viewing Information Agreement (on some models it could be Live Plus)
Roku TV	Use Info from TV Inputs
Vizio	Viewing Data
Sony	Samba Interactive TV
Fire TV	Automatic Content Recognition

If you can’t find the label, it should be in your model’s manual. Disabling ACR stops new viewing fingerprints, but it may not erase existing data.

Vizio says switching off Viewing Data deletes that device’s historical viewing logs; other brands have their own rules.

2. Turn off voice features and personalized ads

Disable hands-free voice control if you never use it, and check for a physical microphone switch. If your TV has one, it’s usually on the lower edge along the underside of the bezel. You should also disable the remote’s voice recognition.

Next, turn off Interest-Based Ads, Personalized Ads, Cross-Device Advertising, or Limit Ad Tracking, depending on your device. This may be separate from ACR, so do both to be safe.

3. Put the TV on a separate network

A guest or Internet of Things (IoT) network isolates your TV from phones, computers, and drives on your primary network. That limits device discovery and the damage a compromised smart device can cause.

Many router apps let you create one. Connect the TV and smart-home gear there, and keep sensitive devices on the main network.

4. Take the TV offline

Disconnecting Wi-Fi or Ethernet blocks uploads while the TV remains offline, but you lose built-in apps, online features, and automatic updates. LG research suggests some information may upload after the TV reconnects, so this isn't necessarily a clean reset.

An external streaming box is a middle ground. The display can stay offline, but the box has its own privacy settings.

Switching off ACR also does not stop a streaming app from tracking activity inside its service. Review both sets of controls.

Bottom line

A camera isn’t tracking your every move, but your TV doesn’t need one to gather valuable information about you.

A few changes can substantially reduce how much of that information leaves your living room. Switch off ACR, personalized advertising, and unused voice controls, then move the TV to a separate guest or IoT network for the best balance between privacy and convenience.

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