Privacy concerns surrounding LG smart televisions have prompted one owner to take an unusually hands-on approach: removing the television’s Wi-Fi, microphone and Bluetooth antenna after watching a detailed investigation into its reported data-collection behaviour.
The issue matters beyond living-room electronics. Connected screens now sit alongside arcade and gaming news as part of a wider conversation about ownership, network access and how much control customers retain over their devices.
An investigation raises questions about LG televisions
Earlier in September, popular YouTuber Gamer’s Nexus posted a detailed, thorough, and compelling video report examining alleged privacy and security issues in LG smart TVs. LG subsequently responded by denying the claims made in the report.
The investigation presented claims that some LG televisions can record conversations and store them, scan nearby devices and Wi-Fi signals, and continue performing certain activities after being disconnected from the internet. It also highlighted comments from LG executives and partners suggesting that the company considered itself to “own the glass” rather than the customer.
Those claims attracted significant attention online. They also motivated one television owner to open up his recently purchased LG G6 OLED and remove hardware he believed could be used for monitoring or communication.
A DIY response to connected-TV surveillance
Small YouTuber tfm55x, who had not uploaded a video for four years, returned with a video titled “This LG G6 OLED Glass Belongs to Me! It’s not spying on me anymore.”
In the video, tfm55x explains how he removed the television’s Wi-Fi and microphone hardware. He also discusses taking out the Bluetooth antenna and criticises LG’s alleged approach to customer privacy, calling the company’s behaviour that of “dirty rotten scoundrels.”
His original plan was to place the television on a private virtual network and limit how it could communicate online. After watching the investigation, however, he concluded that network restrictions might not prevent every form of monitoring described in the report. He therefore chose to open the set and remove the relevant components himself.
“You don’t own the glass on this one”
“Apparently, the little scoundrels at LG are telling customers that they own the screen or they own the glass. Well, you don’t own the glass on this one.”
That statement formed part of his rejection of the television’s lengthy agreements. He said he did not accept the terms and objected to paying for a television while allowing the manufacturer to monitor his activities.
The video received strong support in its comments, including a top comment with more than 2,000 upvotes praising it as the best “I do not accept” statement the commenter had seen.
The television still works
Despite the risk involved in opening modern consumer electronics, tfm55x later posted a follow-up video showing that the LG television continued to work correctly. The reported result was a functioning screen without the removed Wi-Fi, microphone and Bluetooth components.
The story is a reminder to check privacy settings and network permissions before connecting any internet-enabled display. For anyone comparing screen-based entertainment setups, our arcade machine buying guide and range of virtual pinball machines offer useful starting points for choosing dedicated gaming hardware.
Opening a television can cause damage and may affect warranties, so this is not a repair recommendation. It is instead an extreme example of a customer responding to concerns about connected-device privacy and ownership.
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