Samsung has joined the debate over how smart televisions process user data. A cybersecurity researcher using the username “log4j” on X claimed that, after examining a 2025 model Samsung television, they identified services on the device that raise questions regarding privacy.
According to the researcher, they began examining the device's software after noticing that the advertisements they saw on their television were “unusually” accurate in their targeting. Stating that the firmware files were protected by the AES encryption algorithm, which prevented them from directly decrypting the files, the researcher claimed they later gained administrator-level access by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities that they alleged were unknown to the manufacturer.
WHAT DO THE CLAIMS POINT TO?
According to the claims shared, the system services include an audio component associated with an “always-on microphone” function. However, it is not yet clear whether this service actually scans ambient sounds continuously or under what conditions it operates.
The researcher also alleged that the television software contains telemetry modules for Automatic Content Recognition, geolocation, local network mapping, and targeted advertising. It was also claimed that four different digital rights management systems were detected in the software layer.
One of the most striking points concerned the data ecosystem. The researcher claimed that Samsung is part of a structure connected to approximately 400 different business partners in this field. This claim has reignited discussions that smart televisions are not just content-viewing tools, but also connected devices that collect and process data.
However, these findings are currently based on a one-sided social media post. No verification or statement has been made by Samsung or any other independent source regarding the matter. Therefore, these claims should be evaluated as a privacy allegation that needs to be investigated, rather than as confirmed technical findings.
News Source: 12punto
