Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the status of the temporary restraining order described below. The TRO was vacated by the court on January 6, 2026, and a subsequent TRO application was denied on January 9, 2026.
In a legal development that drew significant attention, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pursued action against electronics giant Samsung, accusing it of using its smart TVs to spy on consumers illegally. According to a release by the Attorney General's office, this effort followed Paxton's ongoing campaign to crack down on invasive data practices by TV manufacturers.
The case centers around Samsung's use of Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which captures screenshots of content displayed on its TVs every 500 milliseconds to collect personal data without consumer consent, alleged to be a breach of privacy under Texas law. A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was initially issued by a Collin County District Court on January 5, 2026, which would have barred Samsung and any affiliates from using, selling, or sharing ACR data in relation to consumers in Texas. The District Court had found there was "good cause to believe" that Samsung's practices likely violated the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
However, just one day after granting the TRO, the same court vacated the order on January 6, 2026, finding that it should be set aside with no force or effect whatsoever. No reason was given for the reversal. A subsequent TRO hearing took place on Friday, January 9, 2026, at which the TRO application was denied.
"The days of Big Tech digitally invading Americans' homes and spying on them are over," Attorney General Paxton stated. The legal action against Samsung reflects a growing concern over digital privacy and the handling of consumer data by large technology companies, though the TRO itself did not remain in effect.
The legal action against Samsung follows a similar pattern of crackdowns initiated by Paxton, including action against Hisense's usage of ACR technology. Pursuing what appears to be a wider protective stance towards digital privacy, the Office of the Attorney General has taken action against five major television manufacturers — Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL — for their alleged exploitation of ACR technology without proper consumer permission.
