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LG is a South Korean Electronics and Home Appliance Zaibatsu (or mega corporation). They make microwave ovens, ovens, stoves, refrigerators, cell phones, TVs, speakers, blu-ray disk drives, CD and DVD drives, and other electronics and computer components and peripherals.
Part of the company's appliance division is involved with smart appliances, like microwaves. The company also makes Smart OLED TVs.[1] LG is currently worth over 9.9 Billion USD in market cap.[2]
The implementation of "smart" LG devices come with the following features:[3]
A terms of service with the only option being to "accept."
A single terms of service that dictates how a multitude of unrelated LG devices can use your personal data. Agreeing on one device means agreement on all.
There is only an easily accessible "accept all" button when the service prompts the user with the Terms of Service (ToS).
Information gained by smart appliances are used to create a profile on the consumer. This profile is used to give targeted advertisements.
Products such as the lines of LG smart vacuum cleaners collect information such as images, floor maps, cleaning history, cleaning diary list, and video feed, which is then sent to LG servers.
Products such as LG smart TVs have the "Do not sell my personal data" setting off by default, being opt-out rather than opt-in.
Products such as LG smart TV's collect information on the use of the product, such as what content you watch and when you watch it.
LG's "ThinQ" mobile app to remotely control their line of portable air conditioners have a requirement for users to input their full name, email, and birthday in order to access these remote-control features. Further information fields prompted but not required include phone number, location, and address information.
Broader Implications
This incident represents broader implications:
A lack of control over one's own data.
A lack of consent before using the customers data to make a profit.
Services being "opt-out" instead of being "opt-in."
A lack of privacy in one' own home, due to their electronics siphoning data to LG, even after the transfer of ownership has been made.
