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TX AG Sues TV Manufacturers for Unauthorized ACR Data Collection

Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL Technology Group CorporationDecember 15, 2025Texas Attorney General

Summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against five major TV manufacturers—Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL—for illegally collecting consumers' viewing data through Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology without knowledge or consent. The companies capture screenshots and monitor TV usage in real-time, then sell the data for targeted advertising, risking sensitive information. The suit seeks to halt these invasive practices and protect Texans' privacy.

Contract Impact

In-house legal teams should review all vendor agreements with smart device manufacturers, ACR technology providers, and targeted advertising vendors to ensure compliance with privacy requirements highlighted in this enforcement action. Key clauses to audit include data collection disclosures, user consent mechanisms, data sharing and sale restrictions, and notice requirements. Contracts should explicitly prohibit vendors from collecting viewing or usage data without affirmative user consent, mandate clear and conspicuous notice of all data collection practices (including ACR), and ban the unauthorized sale or sharing of consumer viewing data. Additionally, update data processing agreements to require vendors to implement reasonable security measures, delete user data upon request, and comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws.

Contract Search Terms

Automated Content Recognition (ACR)viewing activity data collectionsmart TV data sharinguser consent for data collectionnotice of data collection practicesunauthorized data transmissiontargeted advertising data salesconsumer viewing data sharing

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL Technology Group Corporation

Also known as: Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL

Industry

Technology

Official Sources

Source Evidence

Entity Name
"The five major corporations being sued are as follows: Sony, Samsung, LG, as well as Hisense and TCL Technology Group Corporation (“TCL”), which are both based in China."
Event Date
"December 15, 2025 | Press Release"
Jurisdiction
"Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against five major television companies for spying on Texans"
Event Type
"Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against five major television companies"
Violation Types
"secretly recording what consumers watch in their own homes"
Violation Types
"transmit that information back to the company without the user’s knowledge or consent"

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