Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against five major TV manufacturers—Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL Technology Group Corporation—accusing them of using Automated Content Recognition technology to secretly collect viewers’ data without consent. The technology reportedly captures what is on screen every half second and sends it back to the companies, according to the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
Paxton expressed particular concern over Hisense and TCL, citing risks under China’s National Security Law and potential access to U.S. consumer data. He stated, "Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans’ devices inside their own homes," as reported by the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
The complaint says personal data collection goes beyond viewing habits and can include passwords and banking information. The Office of the Texas Attorney General called the practice “This conduct is invasive, deceptive, and unlawful.” It said it will “to aggressively investigate and stop any company that puts consumers at risk.” The lawsuits could affect how tech companies handle consumer data in the future.
