16.12.2025
2 min
428
The Texas Attorney General has filed lawsuits against five major television manufacturers, accusing them of secretly collecting data on what users watch. According to the complaints, Smart TVs used Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology to capture screen content without users’ knowledge or consent.
The lawsuits target Sony, Samsung, LG, as well as Chinese manufacturers Hisense and TCL. Texas authorities allege that Smart TVs equipped with ACR technology captured screenshots every 500 milliseconds, monitored viewing activity in real time, and transmitted this data to company servers without informing users.
Prosecutors claim the collected data was used for advertising and shared with third parties. Special concerns were raised about Chinese manufacturers, which are subject to China’s national security laws, potentially allowing government access to U.S. consumer data.
The Texas Attorney General described ACR as an “invisible digital intruder,” stressing that owning a television does not mean surrendering one’s right to privacy.
Similar practices have been investigated before in the United States. In 2017, TV manufacturer Vizio paid $2.2 million to settle charges related to collecting viewing data from over 11 million users without consent. The company was found to have linked viewing habits with demographic data and sold it for targeted advertising.
In 2022, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission urged consumers to review Smart TV tracking settings and limit data collection features. The Texas lawsuits could set a major precedent for the Smart TV industry. They highlight growing concerns over transparency, user consent, and the expanding role of everyday devices as tools for large-scale data surveillance.
