A cybersecurity researcher alleges Samsung smart TVs collect room audio through connected devices even without built-in microphones.
The researcher, who uses the handle log4j on X, claims that Samsung smart TVs lacking a built-in microphone will search for connected devices with one. These devices include soundbars or Bluetooth speakers, which the TV allegedly uses to capture audio.
To investigate, Log4j obtained root administrator privileges on a personal 2025 Samsung smart TV. The researcher started this examination because the television displayed oddly specific advertisements. Findings have been posted in a series of updates on X since 21 October.
This is pretty evil and clever
The researcher said Samsung telemetry logs events such as baby crying and dog barking. These are recorded under an event called EV201/SOUNDSENSOR_ON. Samsung advertises Pet Care and Family Care on its 2025 Vision AI TVs. These features use on-device AI to detect a barking dog or crying baby and send an alert through the SmartThings app.
Claims versus advertised features
Researcher Claims
Alleged telemetry behavior
- TVs search for external microphones
- Sound event counts reported to company
- Geolocation and network mapping active
Samsung Disclosure
Advertised features
- Pet and Family Care detect sounds
- Alerts sent via SmartThings app
- No explicit mention of data reporting
Notebookcheck reports that Samsung does not explicitly state that counts of those pet and baby sound events are reported back to the company. Log4j also claims the TV was collecting geolocation data and mapping local networks. The system allegedly ran a service analyzing traffic on the local network.
The researcher says the system uses a region-specific neural network to analyze viewing habits. This analysis reportedly covers YouTube videos watched, ads skipped and progress in a video.
Log4j’s own notes state that the sound-event counters do not prove an alert was ever shown. The full lifecycle of the data remains untraced. The claims have not been independently verified, and Samsung does not appear to have commented.
Another user, ngxson, observed a rooted Tizen TV open its microphone for five seconds before going quiet. They noted that a stock TV might behave differently. Log4j has promised a full write-up of around 44 sections, which was not available at the time of the Notebookcheck report.
For several years, Samsung has employed automatic content recognition (ACR) to identify on-screen content. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reached a settlement with the company earlier this year. Under the agreement, Samsung must obtain express consent from Texans before it collects or processes ACR viewing data.
- 2015EPIC complaint
Privacy group accuses Samsung of recording conversations.
- JanuaryNew York lawsuit
Class action filed alleging ACR records video and audio.
- JulyDismissal
New York class action voluntarily dismissed.
- Earlier this yearTexas settlement
Samsung agrees to express consent for ACR data.
- This monthCalifornia lawsuit
Class action accuses Samsung of lacking transparency.
A class action complaint filed in New York in January alleged that Samsung recorded audio and video passing through the TV using ACR. It alleged the company used machine-learning algorithms to link the data to consumers. That case was voluntarily dismissed in July.
Samsung Electronics America faces accusations in a separate class action complaint filed in California this month regarding a lack of transparency about ACR data collection. In 2015, privacy group EPIC filed an FTC complaint accusing Samsung of recording conversations and relaying them elsewhere. The complaint identified text-to-speech company Nuance as the third party.
Everything a user says in front of the Samsung SmartTV is recorded and transmitted over the internet to a third party regardless of whether it is related to the provision of the service.
In September, a Gamers Nexus investigation said LG smart TVs were mapping devices on home networks. It also alleged they captured microphone audio in standby. LG later denied some but not all of the claims.
Log4j warns that turning ACR off in Samsung TV preferences should not be assumed to actually disable ACR telemetry. The researcher stated they found checks either incorrectly implemented or not checked at all.
ACR off via your preferences menu on samsung TVs should not be assumed to actually disable ACR telemetry.
The researcher says that for immediate peace of mind, the best option is disconnecting the TV from Wi-Fi. This approach means losing internet-based TV features. Log4j suggests alternatives such as an Apple TV or an Android TV box that can be modified with open-source software.
