TermsRating

LG

12 serious, 2 to watch. Found 20 of 23 practices.
F

Do they get wide rights to what you post or upload?Yes

b. User Content. By sending, posting or transmitting any information to LG or through the Online Services ('User Content') you grant LG and our designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right to use, reproduce, sublicense (through multiple tiers), distribute, create derivative works from, and otherwise exploit the User Content in any media now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to you, subject to applicable law. All User Content is deemed non-confidential and non-proprietary.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 58–58
In plain wordsThis clause means the company can use, change, and sell anything you post however they want, forever, without paying you. Once you post something, they can share it with others and use it for their own advertising or business purposes indefinitely.

Do you give up the right to sue?Yes

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF USE, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THIS WEBSITE OR THE APP. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE TERMS OF USE CONTAINS PROVISIONS OBLIGATING YOU AND LG TO RESOLVE DISPUTES THAT ARISE BETWEEN US, INCLUDING ANY DISPUTES THAT AROSE OR WERE ASSERTED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE TERMS OF USE, THROUGH BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION. SECTION 19 CONTAINS AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT. UNLESS YOU OPT OUT OF THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT: (1) YOU MAY NOT BE A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND (2) YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO PURSUE DISPUTES OR CLAIMS AND SEEK RELIEF IN A COURT OF LAW AND TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 24–25
In plain wordsBy using this service, you agree to settle all legal disagreements through private arbitration instead of a trial. This also means you cannot join other people in a group lawsuit (class action) against the company.

3 of 3 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Do they sell or share your data?Yes

• Interest-based advertising: Our third-party advertising partners may use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about your interaction (including Network Activity) with the Service, our communications and other online services over time, and use that information to serve online ads that they think will interest you. This is called interest-based advertising. We may also share information about our users with these companies to facilitate interest-based advertising to those or similar users on other online platforms. You can learn more about your choices for limiting interest-based advertising in the “Your control and choices” section below. AI and Algorithms.
lg.com/us/privacy, lines 256–257
In plain wordsThe company shares your information with advertising partners so they can show you personalized ads based on your online activity. This includes sharing data about you with other platforms to help advertisers target you more effectively.

6 of 9 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Do they refuse responsibility when things break?Yes

a. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOUR USE OF THE ONLINE SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK, AND THE ONLINE SERVICES, THE AI-BASED SERVICES AND OUTPUT ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR SUITABILITY FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 75–75
In plain wordsThis clause means the company provides its services without any promises that they will work correctly or be suitable for your needs. If something goes wrong or the information provided is inaccurate, the company is not responsible for fixing it or compensating you.

5 of 6 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Do they use what you post to train AI?Yes

AI and Automated Decision-Making. We use artificial intelligence (“AI”), machine learning, and automated decision-making technologies to enhance our products and services, personalize user experiences, and improve performance and safety. These technologies may analyze data such as device usage patterns, voice commands, or environmental conditions to optimize functionality. We do not use AI systems to make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you without human oversight. Where AI is used to assist in decision-making, we implement safeguards to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.
lg.com/us/privacy, lines 258–259
In plain wordsThe company uses AI to analyze your data, such as your usage patterns and voice commands, to improve their services. This means your information is processed by their automated systems to help train and optimize their technology.

4 of 6 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Do they use your data to target ads?Yes

• Direct marketing: We may send you direct marketing communications via email, SMS/text message, push notification through our mobile apps, or web push notifications via your browser (if enabled). You may opt-out of our marketing communications as described in the “Your control and choices” section below.
lg.com/us/privacy, lines 255–255
In plain wordsThe company may send you marketing messages through email, text, or app notifications based on your information. You have the right to stop receiving these communications at any time.

7 of 8 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Can they hand your data to authorities without telling you?Yes

LG is entitled, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, to disclose any information or materials on or in the Online Services, including your User Content, in LG’s possession, to (i) comply with applicable laws, legal process or governmental request; (ii) enforce the Terms of Use, (iii) respond to any claims that your User Content violates the rights of third parties, (iv) respond to your requests for customer service, or (v) protect the rights, property or personal safety of LG, its Users or the public, and all enforcement or other government officials, as LG in its sole discretion believes to be necessary or appropriate.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 72–73
In plain wordsThis clause allows the company to share your information with government officials or law enforcement for various reasons without promising to notify you first. It also notes that they may be legally prohibited from telling you when they hand over your data.

6 of 7 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Are they off the hook if your data leaks?Yes

No Responsibility to Backup or Maintain User Content. LG is not responsible to backup or maintain User Content and is not responsible for any damage or loss of data or other User Content for any reason, including the implementation of measures by LG in accordance with these Terms of Use, such as restriction of User’s use of the Online Services or termination of your LG Account. User is responsible to create backups of User Content.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 62–64
In plain wordsThe company states they are not responsible for any loss of data for any reason. This means you are solely responsible for making your own copies and backups of your information to prevent permanent loss.

Do they combine your data across products?Yes

Some offerings have their own privacy policies. If there is any difference between this Privacy Policy and the one for a specific offering, the privacy policy for that offering will apply. For LG Smart TV, LG Channels, or Smart Media Product users, please see the separate Smart TV Privacy Policy at https://us.lgappstv.com/main/terms for details of how LG processes personal information in the course of providing its Smart TV / Media Product service. Please note that we may combine information we collect among our services, including the Services described above as well as the Smart TV / Media Product service, and across your devices for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.
lg.com/us/privacy, lines 209–210
In plain wordsLG may merge the information they collect from your various devices and services into a single profile. This means your activity on one product, like a Smart TV, could be linked with your use of other LG services like ThinQ.

3 of 6 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Must disputes be settled in their chosen court?Yes

However, any question as to whether a Dispute is a Covered Dispute (as defined above) and/or whether a Dispute is subject to the Mandatory Dispute Resolution Provisions for U.S. Users is to be decided by applying the provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9 of the U.S. Code ('FAA'). iv. Choice of Venue: For any Action allowed to proceed in court, or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, the Parties agree to exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue in the State courts of the State of New Jersey or the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 105–106
In plain wordsIf you decide to sue the company, you are forced to bring your case only in the courts of New Jersey. This could be very expensive and difficult if you live far away from that state.

Do you pay their legal bills?Yes

You agree to indemnify and hold Company Parties harmless from any losses, costs, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) relating to or arising out of any and all of the following: (a) your User Content; (b) your use of, or inability to use, any Online Service; (c) your use or reliance on the AI-Based Services; (d) your violation of the Terms of Use; (d) your violation of any rights of another party, including any other Users; or (e) your violation of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 73–73
In plain wordsIf someone sues the company because of something you did, such as uploading illegal content or breaking the rules, you must pay for the company's legal fees and any resulting damages. This means you are responsible for covering their costs if your actions lead to a lawsuit.

3 of 3 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Do they own your ideas and feedback?Yes

You hereby grant to LG a fully paid, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive, and fully sub-licensable and transferable right and license to use, reproduce, perform, display, distribute, adapt, modify, re-format, create derivative works of, and otherwise commercially or non-commercially exploit in any manner, any and all Feedback, and to sublicense the foregoing rights, for any purpose, including without limitation in connection with the operation and maintenance of the Services and/or LG’s business.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 57–57
In plain wordsThis means LG can use your ideas, suggestions, or feedback however they want, forever, without paying you or asking for further permission. They are allowed to change your ideas or share them with others for any business purpose.

Can they change the deal without asking?Partly

We reserve the right to change the Terms of Use from time to time in our sole discretion. When we do, we will revise the Effective Date at the top of these Terms of Use. Changes to these Terms of Use will be effective immediately or the earliest date permitted by law after notice to you, which may be given by posting the updated Terms of Use on our Online Services or by email. If material changes are made to the Terms of Use, we may also notify you by placing a prominent notice on the Website or App or via email at the email address we have on file for you.
lg.com/us/legal/terms-of-use, lines 28–28
In plain wordsThe company can change these rules whenever they want, and if you keep using their services, you are automatically agreeing to the new terms. It is your responsibility to check the updated terms regularly to see if anything has changed.

5 of 5 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Do they track you across sites, apps or places?Partly

• Audio-visual Information. We may collect audio, electronic, visual, or similar information, such as video recordings. • Biometric Information. We may collect biometric identifiers and biometric information, such as voiceprints, or other physiological or behavioral characteristics, when you use certain LG products or features that rely on biometric recognition. We collect and process this information only after providing you notice consent or as otherwise permitted by law, and we use it solely for the purpose of enabling and improving these features.
lg.com/us/privacy, lines 236–237
In plain wordsThe company may collect your biometric data, such as voiceprints or physical characteristics, to power specific features on their products. They state they will only do this with your consent and will not sell this information to others.

6 of 6 other smart TV and consumer electronics companies we rated do this too.

Checked, nothing hostile

  • Does not say it reads your private messages.
  • Does not keep its rights to your content once you delete it or leave.
  • Does not say it keeps your data forever or after you delete your account.
  • Does not say your data can pass to a buyer if the company is sold or fails.
  • Does not lock you into a year-long or longer commitment or charge you to leave early.
  • Does not say it shows your name, photo or activity in ads.

Not covered by these documents

The documents we read do not mention these practices, which usually live in a document we haven’t read yet:

  • Do they refuse to let you delete your account?
  • Can they cut you off any time?
  • Does your subscription renew by itself?