Samsung TVs might use the mics of connected devices to listen to you, researcher says
Samsung TVs allegedly scans third-party devices with microphones to listen to consumers, according to a cybersecurity researcher.
A researcher claims that Samsung smart TVs could be listening to users through the microphones of connected devices, even if the TV itself does not have a built-in microphone. The findings were shared on the social media platform X by cybersecurity researcher @log4j. The researcher discovered that if a Samsung TV lacks a microphone, it will scan for connected devices with a microphone, such as a soundbar or Bluetooth speaker. The TV will then collect audio data from these devices, which could raise privacy concerns.
The researcher gained administrator root access to their own 2025 Samsung smart TV and has been sharing their findings on X. While many TVs advertise microphone capabilities for voice commands and smart home integration, @log4j found that Samsung TVs may also be logging everyday sounds like dog barking and baby crying under an event called EV201/SOUNDSENSOR_ON. Notably, Samsung does not disclose that this data is sent back to the company.
Furthermore, the researcher found that Samsung TVs track activities within specific apps. For instance, the TV monitors user interactions in the YouTube app, including data on skipped ads. Mashable has contacted Samsung for more information regarding these reports, and further updates will be provided upon receiving a response. This issue is not exclusive to Samsung TVs; last month, a report by YouTuber Gamers Nexus revealed that LG TVs might secretly record users even when the televisions are turned off. LG has since responded, acknowledging some claims but not all.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
