LG Bans Residential Proxy Apps on Smart TVs Amid Security Outcry

LG residential proxy ban reshapes smart‑TV ecosystem

LG Electronics USA announced it will suspend any webOS applications that embed a residential proxy SDK, effectively removing the LG residential proxy capability from its smart‑TV store. The decision follows a Reuters-cited study by security firm Spur that flagged ↓ 42% of LG apps and ↓ 25% of Samsung Tizen apps as containing such code.

“A residential proxy network is not an intended use for LG smart TVs,” senior vice‑president John Taylor told KrebsOnSecurity.

Developers who do not strip the proxy module will see their apps suspended. LG says its review process is already well underway, and future submissions will undergo stricter vetting. The practice of monetising TV hardware by paying developers to embed proxy nodes—exemplified by Bright Data’s Pac‑Man game—has drawn criticism for opaque consent mechanisms, especially when minors are involved.

Bright Data defended its model, citing a second PwC audit and “transparent, consent‑driven” operations, while the broader industry faces pressure to separate legitimate data‑scraping services from consumer devices.