Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against several major smart TV manufacturers, accusing them of violating consumer privacy by secretly collecting data on what users watch in their homes. According to the complaints, the companies used automated content recognition (ACR) technology that captures real-time audio and visual data displayed on smart TV screens and uses it for targeted advertising.
The lawsuits, filed in multiple Texas state courts, name Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL as defendants. Paxton alleges that the technology not only tracks television programs but also records any content displayed on a smart TV, including security camera feeds, photos, and videos cast from phones, as well as data from devices connected via HDMI ports. He claims the companies failed to clearly inform consumers about this data collection, violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Paxton raised additional concerns about Hisense and TCL, companies with partial ownership ties to the Chinese government. He argues that Chinese law could require these firms to share collected user data with the Chinese Communist Party, posing national security and privacy risks. In his filings, Paxton described smart TVs as turning into “mass surveillance systems” inside American homes.
LG Electronics USA said it does not comment on pending litigation, while the other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Paxton said the lawsuits are meant to protect Texans’ fundamental right to privacy, emphasizing that owning a television should not mean surrendering personal information to corporations or foreign governments.
Source: Courthouse News Service
Author: Christina van Waasbergen
Original story: https://www.courthousenews.com/texas-ag-sues-smart-tv-makers-over-data-privacy/