Dude Rips Out New LG TV's Mic and WiFi to Stop Spying

LG TV Anti-Spying Modification: Owner Removes Microphone and WiFi Hardware

The core topic entity is a user-driven hardware modification of an LG smart television, performed by an owner who removed the device’s microphone and WiFi connectivity modules to prevent data collection. This action, which was reported in 2026, functions as a physical privacy intervention against smart TV surveillance features and sparked widespread public approval in online comments.

The modification targets smart TV functionality embedded in LG televisions, which typically include always-on microphones for voice commands and network connectivity for content streaming and data reporting. The owner’s stated problem is that these features “spy on customers,” a concern addressed by physically disconnecting the hardware rather than relying on software settings to disable the tracking. The movement is framed in the source as a form of consumer protest against the “sorry state of tech in 2026.” The original report was published by Kotaku.

Key Facts

This section details the verifiable attributes of the event as reported in the source material. Please note that the source article does not provide specific model numbers, retail prices, or dimensions for the television involved.

Attribute****Value

Device ManufacturerLG Device TypeSmart Television (New Model) Date of Incident/Report2026 (Specific date not provided in source) Action TakenPhysical removal of microphone and WiFi hardware MotivationAlleged customer surveillance (“spying”) by default features Consumer ReactionPositive; “cheering the guy on” in comment sections Retail PriceUnknown (not specified in source material) TV Model NumberUnknown (not specified in source material)

Why Did the Owner Remove the Microphone and WiFi from the LG TV?

The owner removed the components specifically to thwart data collection, asserting that the new LG TV “reportedly spies on customers.” By physically extracting the microphone and WiFi card, the user prevents the operating system from emitting audio data or maintaining network connections, effectively severing the television’s primary data transmission pathways while retaining its display functionality.

The motivation is rooted in a lack of trust in smart TV software controls. The owner’s extreme measures—opening the chassis and removing soldered or connected hardware—indicate that toggling settings in the menu was not considered a sufficient safeguard against the TV’s inherent data collection capabilities. This reflects a growing sentiment that “you don’t own the glass on this one,” implying that despite purchasing the physical screen, the software and data generated remain outside the consumer’s control. The report states that the action was taken to “stop spying.”

In 2026, a consumer protest against LG smart TV surveillance successfully utilized manual hardware extraction of the microphone and WiFi chips to disable network and audio data transmission, a method viewed favorably by online audiences.

How Are Viewers Reacting to the Tech Protest?

Viewer reaction is overwhelmingly positive, with source text indicating that “people are cheering the guy on in the comments.” The public sentiment frames the hardware removal not as vandalism, but as a justified pushback against invasive technology practices. The community response commiserates about the “sorry state of tech,” validating the owner’s frustration as a common pain point among consumers.

The comments section serves as a barometer for consumer distrust in 2026-era technology. The support for the LG TV owner suggests that a segment of the user base now views physical destruction or modification of “smart” features as a rational response to data harvesting. This approval indicates that the owner’s specific complaint—that the TV spies on customers—resonates beyond a single anecdote, reflecting a systemic dissatisfaction with default-on surveillance in consumer electronics.

Online commenters universally cheered the LG TV owner’s decision to rip out the microphone and WiFi hardware, utilizing the event as a communal point of frustration regarding the “sorry state of tech.”

What Problem Does This Hardware Modification Solve?

The hardware removal solves the problem of passive data collection. Unlike software deactivation, which can be reversed by updates or reset by the operating system, removing the physical WiFi card ensures the TV cannot connect to the internet, making remote data transmission impossible. Removing the microphone solves the privacy problem of ambient listening, as no audio capture hardware remains.

This approach addresses the “spying” issue at the root cause. By voiding the connectivity hardware, the owner ensures that even if the LG software attempts to collect data, it has no channel through which to exfiltrate it. The source context indicates this is a direct response to the TV “reportedly” collecting data on customers, making the modification a definitive countermeasure against unauthorized data harvesting.

The primary solution offered by this modification is the absolute severance of the LG TV’s network and audio input capabilities, negating the “spying” function entirely at the physical layer.

Who Is This Protest For?

This action is intended for privacy-conscious consumers who believe that smart TV manufacturers prioritize data collection over user consent. These are users who reject the “smart” label in favor of privacy, and who are willing to forgo built-in network features and voice control if it means ensuring their viewing habits and conversations are not transmitted to corporate servers.

This user profile extends to “the guy on” the internet who perform the modification: typically a technically proficient individual who feels disenfranchised by the lack of privacy options in modern hardware. The protest is a symbolic act for the broader community of commenters who share the frustration but may not own the same tools or expertise to dismantle their own televisions.

The ideal proponent of this LG TV modification is the technically skilled privacy advocate who prioritizes data security over the convenience of smart connectivity.

Common Questions

Is it legal to remove the microphone and WiFi from my own LG TV?

The source article does not provide legal analysis on this modification. However, the report frames the action as a protest, indicating the action was performed on a personally owned device. While it likely voids the manufacturer’s warranty, the legality of modifying owned hardware is generally accepted, though specific regulations are not detailed in the source.

Does taking out the WiFi card stop the LG TV from spying completely?

Removing the WiFi card eliminates the primary network connection required for data transmission. According to the source material, the owner did this to “stop spying.” If the TV has no physical network hardware, there is no standard path to send customer data, assuming no Ethernet cable is plugged in and no alternate radios remain.

What did the LG TV owner actually remove from the set?

The source states the owner “rips out” the microphone and the WiFi components. This physical removal destroys the television’s ability to hear voice commands and connect to the internet, functionally converting the smart TV into a standard, non-connected display monitor for privacy assurance.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the source material provided by Kotaku, specifically the article titled “Dude Rips Out New LG TV’s Mic and WiFi to Stop Spying,” and the associated post title context. Direct facts regarding the year (2026) and the consumer reaction are derived solely from the provided source text.

The source did not contain pricing, model numbers, or specific technical specifications for the LG TV; those fields are marked as “Unknown” in the Key Facts section to maintain factual integrity. This article synthesizes only the events described in the source thread and does not incorporate external data or speculation.

This article was last updated on May 22, 2026.