A security researcher raised fresh privacy concerns around Samsung smart TVs. The researcher says the TVs can detect sounds such as a baby crying or a dog barking, even when the television itself does not have a microphone.
The claim suggests that a Samsung TV may search for a microphone on a connected device, such as a soundbar or Bluetooth speaker. If found, the TV could potentially use that microphone for sound detection.
The researcher, who uses the handle ‘log4j,' examined a 2025 Samsung TV. They reported finding code and telemetry entries linked to sound detection. The findings were not verified independently. They are based on reverse engineering and telemetry data, not on proof that Samsung recorded private conversations or sent audio to its servers.
The logs reportedly counted events such as baby crying and dog barking. The researcher said these counters may have been sent to Samsung servers, but they could not confirm the full process.
Samsung already offers sound-detection features through its SmartThings ecosystem. These features can alert users when the TV hears a baby crying or a dog barking. The new claim focuses on whether the TV can borrow a microphone from another device.
The most striking part of the claim is that a TV without its own microphone may search for one elsewhere. A soundbar with voice-assistant support or a Bluetooth speaker with a built-in mic could fit that role.
However, the researcher did not show a complete chain from microphone access to audio capture and transmission. Without that evidence, it is not clear whether the TV can actually listen through a soundbar.
Another user reportedly observed a rooted Samsung TV turning on its microphone for about five seconds. That observation adds to the concern, but it does not prove systematic surveillance. For now, the claim is a serious privacy question, not confirmed evidence of secret spying. Samsung did not publicly respond to the specific findings.
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