LG faces backlash over monitor installs and TV voice terms

LG is facing criticism on two fronts: users say some of its gaming monitors are automatically installing unwanted software on Windows PCs, and the company’s latest webOS terms tell TV owners they are responsible for warning guests that their voices may be recorded by AI-powered features.

According to Gamers Nexus, some LG monitors have been installing both the LG Monitor App Installer and McAfee Scam Detector without asking for permission. The report says LG’s own app requests full access to system resources, potentially including online activity, logins, hardware, and location data. McAfee software, long criticized as preinstalled bloatware, has drawn an especially hostile response from users who say it appeared unexpectedly on their machines.

The TV controversy centers on section 6(d) of LG Electronics' updated terms of service, titled “Voice Recognition and Privacy Compliance.” As Notebookcheck and writer Hannes Brecher noted, the terms say users must:

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• obtain consent from third parties whose voices may be captured
• notify household members and guests that their voices may be captured and processed
• do so in compliance with applicable wiretapping, eavesdropping, and privacy laws

That applies when a product with voice recognition is used. In practice, owners who want to avoid the issue have limited options: disable microphone-based features, skip the latest software update, or disconnect the TV from the internet entirely.

The wording may simply be legal protection for a product that processes voice commands, but critics argue it is broad enough to raise questions about how captured voices could be used. Coming alongside the monitor software complaints, that has sharpened suspicion online, particularly on Reddit and under Gamers Nexus' YouTube coverage.

TechRadar said it has contacted LG for comment and will update its report if the company responds.