Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL Technology Group for using Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology to collect Texans' viewing data without proper consent. A temporary restraining order was secured against Hisense to halt all data collection and sharing. The AG issued a consumer alert with instructions to disable ACR on smart TVs.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued against Hisense, prohibiting it from collecting, using, selling, sharing, disclosing, or transferring data via ACR. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief against all five companies.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor and customer agreements with smart TV manufacturers (Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL) that involve data collection or ACR technology. Focus on clauses governing data collection consent, automated content recognition usage, data sharing with third parties (e.g., advertisers), data retention periods, breach notification obligations, and consumer opt-out rights. Updates may be needed to ensure explicit, informed consent for ACR, implement clear opt-out mechanisms, limit data sharing purposes, align retention schedules with legal requirements, and strengthen breach notification terms. Data processing addendums should be revised to address ACR-specific processing activities.
Entity
Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL Technology Group
Also known as: Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/consumer-alert-ken-paxton-warns-texans-about-ccp-aligned-smart-tvs-are-spying-them
attorney general paxton sues five major tv companies includi
https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans
attorney general ken paxton secures court order stopping ccp
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-secures-court-order-stopping-ccp-aligned-smart-tv-company-spying-texans
Texas Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/privacy
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a consumer alert warning Texans about scams, fraudulent charities, and illegal price gouging related to severe flooding. The guidance provides resources for verifying charities and reporting suspected fraud or price gouging to the AG's office.
$150.0M
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$45.0M
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$13.0M
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