Texas Attorney General Takes Action Against TV Companies
The Texas Attorney General recently voiced concerns that television companies have become unwelcome guests in consumers’ homes.
Ken Paxton has filed five lawsuits, two of which involve Chinese firms, claiming these companies are illegally tracking the viewing habits of Texans by recording them.
According to Paxton, the technology in question is referred to as automatic content recognition, which he criticized as an “invisible” digital intruder that can take a screenshot of a viewer’s TV display every half second.
He emphasized that this practice is both invasive and illegal, noting that the data collected is often sold for targeted advertising purposes, putting sensitive information like passwords and banking details at risk.
The lawsuits argue that Texans did not consent to the “watchware” used by these companies, effectively stating that their televisions “watch” them. Additionally, they highlight that the mass surveillance of consumers contravenes Texas law, specifically the Texas False Trade Practices Act, which forbids deceptive business practices.
The complaint asserts that these companies opted for data collection and advertising profits at the expense of consumer privacy, which Paxton described as unacceptable.
Companies like Samsung, LG, and Sony largely produce their televisions in Mexico, while also sourcing parts from countries like Vietnam and South Korea. In contrast, TCL and Hisense are based in China.
In a public statement, Paxton remarked that there should be no necessity for companies, particularly those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party, to record private devices within American homes illegally. He stressed that owning a television shouldn’t mean sacrificing personal privacy.
So far, LG and Hisense have stated they cannot comment on ongoing legal matters, while Sony, when approached by media, reiterated a similar stance. Samsung and TCL have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the lawsuits.
