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Samsung Faces Backlash Over TV Capable Of Spying

Consumers are suspicious of the new Samsung smart TV's voice recording capability. (PRNewsFoto/M-GO/AP)
Consumers are suspicious of the new Samsung smart TV's voice recording capability. (PRNewsFoto/M-GO/AP)

Samsung Electronics is downplaying the possibility that its Smart TVs are spying on viewers. The statement comes after reporters found a statement in the privacy policy for Samsung’s Smart TV warning users about how their voices could be captured when they use the voice recognition feature.

The policy reads: "Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party.”

The company released a statement, stressing that users have to activate the voice recognition software, and press a button on the remote control to ask the TV a question and activate the feature that is causing concern.

Jason Bellini of The Wall Street Journal joins Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd to discuss the concerns and fallout over Samsung’s Smart TV.

Guest

  • Jason Bellini, senior producer at the Wall Street Journal. He tweets @jasonbellini
  • Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.