This is all horrific, but I was especially shocked by 6 so I read that. This seems to be only someone asking if this may happen, and no one answering that it would.
Of course this is the point of Amazon Sidewalk, so in due time, it probably will.
Also two other observations. First, there is means: unsecured and public groups like xfinity, sidewalk, fios via some business deal maybe. Also in the means column is a full linux machine, totally possible (not saying it's happening but possible) to run Kismet all day in the background to look for auth. There's all kinds of pocket doodads at Defcon doing this. Second is motive: your data as revenue is the these things are getting so cheap. Why would they leave free cash on the table?
Audio beacons aren't plausible to me as a mobile app developer. Mobile OSes have been tightening their privacy controls for quite some time. At this point you can't run an Android app in the background without the user knowing. You have to explicitly request access to the microphone. In recent Android and iOS versions, the user will be notified about which apps used the microphone when. Besides, constantly recording and analyzing an audio stream would have a noticeable effect on battery life.
How about apps that already have permission, like Shazam, Siri, and GA?
As for battery, they would only need to sample a second every few minutes, to see if there was a beacon afoot, quick DFFT, and they wouldn't need to analyze much.
Not saying it's happening, just that it's easily possible. Look how many apps have location permissions that don't need it.
Most of the examples you link don't prove what you claim.
1. Same issues as any voice assistant. It only uploads things when voice recognition is actually active, and puts a big icon on the screen to show this.
2. Not screenshots, it uses fingerprints to recognise content.
3. That TV is an older special model advertised with built-in camera for skype. The linked video raises a minor security issue that web pages you navigate to (on your smart TV, how many people actually do that?) can enable the webcam without you knowing.
Most TVs don't have a hidden front facing camera.
4. Audio beacons are hard-coded into the tv content, your smart TV doesn't add them. It's more of a privacy issue with smart phone apps using them, and the studios who add them.
5. Actually true
6. You link to a thread of someone asking if TVs might do this. Nobody has provided any evidence of TVs actually doing it, it's 100% theoretical.
IMO, the fingerprinting and advertising are bad enough. No need to invent extra FUD about what smart tvs can do.
Obviously there's a front facing camera, they're not hiding it. It's even a GOOD webcam, to disable it you push it into the bezel and that physically blocks the camera. Great design.
Beyond that, the criticisms are just "This is a proprietary OS by a company that makes hardware, it's not trustworthy." So why the focus on the camera? It's almost like you're trying to imply that Samsung is integrating hidden cameras just to covertly surveil their customers.
1. It uploads voice samples. Don't say anything sensitive in the room. https://imgur.com/Phy1uzX
2.It uploads screenshots regardless of input. See other threads.
3.Front facing camera. Not kidding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6TOtkFQxY
4. Audio beacons? Old news. https://threatpost.com/ultrasonic-beacons-are-tracking-your-...
5. Targeted ad market, selling you. https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/samsungs-invasive-plans-...
6. If you don't give it wifi, it may decide to find some by itself anyway. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskTechnology/comments/odf9qu/can_s...