Texas is suing all of the big TV makers for spying on what you watch

Texas Takes on Big TV Makers in Surveillance Lawsuit

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed separate lawsuits against five major TV manufacturers, accusing them of secretly recording what consumers watch in their own homes. This mass surveillance system allegedly uses Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) to collect personal data used for targeted advertising. The lawsuit claims that TV makers siphon viewing data back to each company without the user’s knowledge or consent.

How ACR Works and What It Collects

ACR uses visual and audio data to identify what you’re watching on TV, including shows and movies on streaming services and cable TV, YouTube videos, Blu-ray discs, and more. Attorney General Paxton alleges that ACR also captures security and doorbell camera streams, media sent using Apple AirPlay or Google Cast, as well as the displays of other devices connected to the TV’s HDMI port, such as laptops and game consoles.

Ties to China and Deceptive Trade Practices

The lawsuit claims that TCL and Hisense’s ties to China make their TVs “Chinese-sponsored surveillance devices, recording the viewing habits of Texans at every turn.” Attorney General Paxton accuses the five TV makers of violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which is meant to protect consumers from false, deceptive, or misleading practices.

Previous Similar Cases and Reactions

Vizio, which is now owned by Walmart, paid $2.2 million to the Federal Trade Commission and New Jersey in 2017 over similar allegations related to ACR. Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorney General Paxton says, “This conduct is invasive, deceptive, and unlawful. The fundamental right to privacy will be protected in Texas because owning a television does not mean surrendering your personal information to Big Tech or foreign adversaries.”
 

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