Paxton Alleges Smart TVs Are Spying on Texans

On December 15, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits against five major television manufacturers, accusing them of secretly recording what consumers watch in their own homes. According to Paxton, Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL are unlawfully collecting personal data through Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology.

ACR, Paxton explains, can capture screenshots of a TV’s display every 500 milliseconds, track viewing activity in real time, and transmit that information back to the manufacturer without consent. The data, which can include sensitive information such as passwords, financial details, and other personal content, is then sold for targeted advertising.

“Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans’ devices inside their own homes,” Paxton said in an official statement. “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.”

The lawsuit raises particular concern about Hisense and TCL, which are based in China. Paxton’s office cites the Chinese National Security Law, which could allow the Chinese government access to U.S. consumer data.

The Verge reports that ACR can track not only TV shows and movies but also streams from security cameras, devices connected via HDMI, and media sent through Apple AirPlay or Google Cast. Paxton claims the companies deceptively prompt users to activate ACR while hiding or obscuring the details of data collection.

Paxton is seeking civil penalties and a court order preventing the companies from collecting, sharing, or selling Texans’ viewing data. He emphasized the ongoing threat posed by foreign entities to consumer privacy: “This conduct is invasive, deceptive, and unlawful,” he said.