Texas Sues Major TV Makers Over Viewing Data Spying
▼ Summary
– Texas is suing Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL, alleging their TVs use Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) to secretly record consumer viewing habits for a “mass surveillance system.”
– The lawsuit claims ACR technology identifies everything watched on the TV, including streaming content, cable, connected devices, and even security camera feeds.
– It accuses the manufacturers of using deceptive and misleading prompts to activate ACR, collecting data like frequent screenshots without proper user knowledge or consent.
– The suit specifically raises concerns about TCL and Hisense’s Chinese ties, labeling their TVs as potential “Chinese-sponsored surveillance devices.”
– Texas seeks penalties and an injunction under state law to stop the data collection, citing a similar past case where Vizio paid a multi-million dollar settlement.
The state of Texas has launched a significant legal challenge against five major television manufacturers, alleging they operate a covert surveillance network within consumers’ homes. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed separate lawsuits accusing Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL of using Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology to secretly record viewing habits. This data, the state claims, is harvested without proper consent and forms the backbone of a targeted advertising system, turning everyday televisions into tools for mass data collection.
The complaints detail how ACR technology functions by analyzing visual and audio signals from the screen. It can identify content from a wide array of sources, including streaming platforms, cable broadcasts, YouTube videos, and even physical media like Blu-ray discs. The lawsuits go further, alleging the technology can capture sensitive personal information far beyond entertainment choices. This includes footage from home security or doorbell cameras, content shared via Apple AirPlay or Google Cast, and the display of any device connected to the TV’s HDMI port, such as personal laptops or gaming consoles.
A central allegation is that the companies employ deceptive practices to activate this feature. According to the filings, consumers are prompted to enable ACR with disclosures that are “hidden, vague, and misleading.” For instance, the state claims that Samsung and Hisense models are configured to capture screenshots of the television display as frequently as every 500 milliseconds. This viewing data is then allegedly transmitted to the manufacturers without the user’s clear knowledge or consent, creating a valuable commodity sold for advertising purposes.
The legal action also highlights geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding two of the named companies. Paxton specifically characterizes televisions from TCL and Hisense as “Chinese-sponsored surveillance devices,” citing their corporate bases in China and expressing apprehension about the potential for foreign data access. The lawsuits assert that all five manufacturers have violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which is designed to shield consumers from fraudulent and misleading business conduct.
As a remedy, the Attorney General is asking the court to impose civil penalties and to issue an injunction that would permanently block these companies from collecting, sharing, or selling the ACR data of Texas residents. The named television makers have not yet issued public statements in response to the litigation. This case echoes a prior settlement involving Vizio, which paid millions to federal and state regulators in 2017 over nearly identical ACR data collection allegations.
“This conduct is invasive, deceptive, and unlawful,” Paxton stated. “Owning a television does not mean you have surrendered your personal information to Big Tech or foreign adversaries. The fundamental right to privacy will be protected in Texas.” The outcome of this legal battle could set a major precedent for consumer privacy and data collection practices in the connected device industry.
(Source: The Verge)
