Report: Samsung smart TVs log dog barks and baby cries

A user who inspected Samsung smart TV traffic found markers for dog-barking and baby-crying events, camera streaming duration and detection of nearby microphones. Samsung openly marketed the Family Care and Pet Care features, and is now discontinuing Family Care after 18 months due to low usage and false positives.

• The TV reports dog-bark and baby-cry events to Samsung servers
• Family Care is being discontinued 18 months after launch over false positives
• The TV detects nearby microphones but no evidence shows it uses them
• Findings came from user log4j after suspiciously targeted on-screen ads