The lawsuits, filed in Texas state courts, allege that the television manufacturers employ ACR technology to capture screenshots of TV displays at frequent intervals, monitor real-time viewing activity, and transmit this sensitive data back to company servers without informing or obtaining consent from the users. The Attorney General’s office characterized ACR technology as an “uninvited, invisible digital invader” specifically designed for the unlawful collection of personal data from smart televisions. This harvested information is then allegedly sold to third parties for use in targeted advertising campaigns.
Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a strong statement regarding the litigation, asserting that companies, particularly those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party, have no right to unlawfully record the activities of Americans within their private homes. Paxton emphasized that this behavior is considered invasive, deceptive, and illegal, vowing that the right to privacy will be upheld in Texas. He further maintained that the act of owning a television does not constitute a forfeiture of personal information to either Big Tech entities or foreign adversaries.
In response to inquiries, spokespersons for Sony, Samsung, Hisense, and TCL were unavailable for immediate comment. An LG spokesperson provided a brief statement, noting that LG Electronics USA maintains a policy of generally not commenting on legal matters that are currently pending. This legal challenge is not the first instance of a smart TV manufacturer facing scrutiny over data collection practices.
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Nearly ten years ago, in February 2017, Vizio, a smart TV manufacturer owned by Walmart, settled charges brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the New Jersey Attorney General. Vizio paid $2.2 million to resolve claims that it had collected viewing data from 11 million consumers without their knowledge or consent through a feature it called “Smart Interactivity.” The investigating agencies determined that since February 2014, Vizio had manufactured and sold smart TVs, and even remotely updated older models with tracking software, which captured detailed information about what was being watched, irrespective of the source, whether it was cable, streaming services, or DVDs.
The complaint further detailed that Vizio allegedly appended demographic data, such as sex, age, income, and education level, to the collected viewing information before selling it to third parties for the purpose of targeted advertising. The FTC subsequently issued a consumer alert in August 2022, advising Americans on how to protect their privacy by adjusting the tracking settings on their smart televisions.
Source: Texas Sues TV Makers For Taking Screenshots Of What People Watch At Home