Court Rules

Privacy Enforcement Tracker

1,285 enforcement actions from 14 federal and state jurisdictions. Every event traced back to its official government source.

1,285

Total Actions

14

Jurisdictions

$35.3B+

Total Fines Tracked

Access this data programmatically:MCP Server API Docs
TXInvestigation

Drone Nerds, LLC

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated an investigation into Drone Nerds, LLC over its partnership with CCP-affiliated Anzu Robotics, which markets drones with concealed surveillance capabilities and unauthorized data collection risks. Drone Nerds is accused of deceiving Texas consumers by misrepresenting Anzu’s ties to China and falsely claiming the drones are U.S.-based with secure privacy practices. The investigation is being conducted under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, with a Civil Investigative Demand issued to gather evidence of consumer deception and privacy violations.

LowSecurity FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXSettlement

Samsung Electronics America, Inc.(Samsung)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reached an agreement with Samsung Electronics America, Inc. to stop collecting Automated Content Recognition (ACR) data from smart TVs without consumers' express consent. Samsung must update its smart TVs to provide clear and conspicuous disclosures and obtain consent before any data collection, ensuring Texans are informed and in control of their viewing data.

LowConsent FailureNotice Failure
TXEnforcement Action

PDD Holdings, Inc. and WhaleCo Inc.(Temu)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Temu (PDD Holdings, Inc. and WhaleCo Inc.) for deceptive marketing practices and illegally harvesting Texans' personal data, which was then exposed to the Chinese Communist Party. The suit seeks monetary damages under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, with potential penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and higher for seniors. This is part of a broader effort to hold CCP-aligned companies accountable.

LowUnauthorized Data SharingSecurity Failure
TXEnforcement Action

TP-Link Systems Inc.(TP-Link)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TP-Link Systems Inc. for deceptively marketing its networking devices and enabling the Chinese Communist Party to access American consumers' devices. The lawsuit alleges that TP Link's products have been used by PRC state-sponsored hackers and that the company is subject to Chinese laws requiring data disclosure. This is part of a coordinated effort to hold China-aligned companies accountable under Texas law.

LowUnauthorized Data SharingSecurity Failure
TXInvestigation

Conduent Business Services LLC(Conduent)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued Civil Investigative Demands to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Conduent Business Services LLC as part of an investigation into a data breach that exposed the protected health information of approximately four million Texans. The breach, which occurred between October 21, 2024 and January 13, 2025, is believed to be the largest in U.S. history. The investigation focuses on Conduent's security measures and BCBS's compliance with state data protection laws.

LowData BreachHealth DataSecurity Failure
TXEnforcement Action

Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL Technology Group(Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL)

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.

LowConsent FailureNotice FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXEnforcement Action

Hisense

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton obtained a temporary restraining order against Hisense, a Chinese smart TV manufacturer, to halt its collection of Texans' personal data through Automated Content Recognition technology without consent. The technology captures every sound and image on the TVs every 500 milliseconds and sells the data, with access granted to the Chinese Communist Party. The TRO prohibits Hisense from collecting, using, selling, sharing, disclosing, or transferring ACR data about Texans while the case continues.

LowConsent FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXEnforcement Action

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

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.

LowConsent FailureNotice FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXEnforcement Action

Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL Technology Group Corporation(Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against five major TV manufacturers—Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL—for unlawfully collecting Texans' viewing data using Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology without their knowledge or consent. The ACR software captures screenshots of TV displays every 500 milliseconds and transmits the data to the companies, which then sell it for targeted advertising. The AG's office alleges these practices violate Texas privacy laws and seeks to enjoin the companies from continuing the surveillance.

LowNotice FailureConsent FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXEnforcement Action

Epic Systems Corporation(Epic Systems)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Epic Systems Corporation, a major electronic health records vendor, alleging unlawful monopolization of the EHR industry and deceptive practices that restrict parental access to minor children’s medical records. The privacy-related claim asserts Epic automatically hides children’s medication lists, treatment notes, and provider messages from parents when a child turns 12, violating Texas law guaranteeing parents unrestricted access to their children’s medical records. The action is part of broader efforts to ensure EHR vendors comply with Texas parental access requirements and promote market competition.

LowChildren's DataHealth Data
TXSettlement

Google

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a $1.375 billion settlement with Google for unlawfully tracking Texans' geolocation data, incognito browsing activity, and biometric identifiers without consent. This is the largest single-state privacy settlement against Google, significantly larger than multistate settlements. The agreement resolves two major privacy enforcement actions brought by Texas.

CriticalGeolocation DataConsent FailureBiometric Data

$1.4B

TXInvestigation

Lorex Technology Inc.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Lorex Technology Inc. for allegedly deceptively selling security cameras with components from CCP-linked Dahua, posing privacy and national security risks. The investigation will determine if Lorex misrepresented the cameras as secure and safe for residential use despite known supply chain vulnerabilities and federal restrictions on Dahua products.

LowSecurity Failure
TXInvestigation

TP-Link Systems Inc.(TP-Link)

The Texas Attorney General opened an investigation into TP-Link Systems Inc. for potentially allowing the Chinese government to access Texans' consumer data through back doors in networking equipment. The investigation will examine whether TP Link violated Texas privacy law by misleading consumers about its independence and improperly collecting or disclosing data. This follows a prior privacy notice violation issued to the company.

LowUnauthorized Data SharingNotice FailureSecurity Failure
TXEnforcement Action

PowerSchool

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against PowerSchool, a provider of cloud-based services for K-12 schools, following a data breach that exposed the personal and health information of over 880,000 Texas school-aged children and teachers. The breach occurred in December 2024 when a hacker gained administrative access through a subcontractor's account and stole unencrypted data including Social Security numbers, medical details, and disability records. The lawsuit alleges PowerSchool violated Texas law by failing to implement basic security measures and by misleading customers about its security practices.

LowData BreachStudent DataChildren's Data
TXInvestigation

Meta AI Studio and Character.AI(Meta and Character.AI)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into Meta AI Studio and Character.AI for deceptive practices in marketing AI chatbots as mental health services to children. The platforms are accused of impersonating licensed professionals, fabricating qualifications, and exploiting user data for advertising without proper disclosure. Civil Investigative Demands have been issued to examine violations of Texas consumer protection laws and the SCOPE Act.

LowChildren's DataUnauthorized Data SharingNotice Failure
TXInvestigation

Meta Platforms, Inc. and Character Technologies, Inc.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Meta and Character.AI via Civil Investigative Demands, alleging deceptive trade practices including misrepresenting AI chatbots as confidential mental health tools while harvesting user data for targeted advertising. The probe assesses potential violations of Texas consumer protection laws and the SCOPE Act, particularly regarding privacy misrepresentations, concealment of data usage, and harms to children. This builds on prior investigations into Character.AI for SCOPE Act compliance.

LowChildren's DataNotice FailureConsent Failure
TXEnforcement Action

Meta, Google, General Motors, TikTok, and other companies(Meta)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a comprehensive privacy enforcement initiative, achieving record settlements with Meta ($1.4B) and Google ($1.375B) for biometric and geolocation data violations, suing General Motors and TikTok, and investigating numerous companies for children's data and AI practices. The AG's office has enforced multiple Texas privacy laws and registered over 200 data brokers.

CriticalBiometric DataGeolocation DataChildren's Data

$2.8B

TXSettlement

Google

Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Google for unlawfully tracking and collecting Texans' private data, including geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data. The case resulted in a $1.375 billion settlement, the largest ever against Google for state privacy enforcement, marking a major win for data privacy rights.

CriticalGeolocation DataBiometric Data

$1.4B

TXEnforcement Action

TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut, and several other Chinese and Chinese Communist Party ("CCP") aligned companies(TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has notified several Chinese companies, including TP-Link, Alibaba, and CapCut, that they are violating the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). The companies must comply with TDPSA requirements to disclose data processing, allow consumer opt-outs, and enable data deletion within 30 days. Failure to comply will result in further legal action.

LowNotice FailureOpt-Out FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXEnforcement Action

TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued notices to several Chinese companies, including TP-Link, Alibaba, and CapCut, for violating the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). The companies must comply with TDPSA's requirements to disclose data processing, allow opt-outs, and enable data deletion within 30 days, or face further legal action.

LowNotice FailureOpt-Out FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXWarning Letter

TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut, and several other CCP-affiliated Chinese companies

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a 30-day compliance notice to TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut, and other CCP-affiliated Chinese companies for violating the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). The companies are accused of failing to disclose consumer data processing activities, allow opt-out of data collection, and enable consumer data deletion as required by Texas law. If the companies do not comply within 30 days, the Attorney General's office will pursue additional legal action.

LowNotice FailureOpt-Out Failure
TXEnforcement Action

TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut, and several other Chinese and Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”) aligned companies(TP-Link, Alibaba, CapCut)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced legal action against several Chinese companies, including TP-Link, Alibaba, and CapCut, for violating the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). The companies have been given 30 days to comply with requirements to disclose data processing, allow consumers to opt out of data collection, and enable data deletion. Failure to comply will result in further legal action to protect Texans' privacy rights and prevent data from being accessed by the Chinese Communist Party.

LowNotice FailureOpt-Out FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
TXInvestigation

DeepSeek

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Chinese AI company DeepSeek for alleged violations of the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, citing concerns over the company’s privacy practices and ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The AG also notified DeepSeek of the alleged violations, issued a ban on DeepSeek’s platform on all Office of the Attorney General devices, and sent third-party Civil Investigative Demands to Google and Apple for documentation related to the DeepSeek app. The investigation stems from allegations that DeepSeek acts as a proxy for the CCP to steal Texas citizens’ data and undermine U.S. AI dominance.

LowUnauthorized Data SharingSecurity Failure
TXInvestigation

Character.AI, Reddit, Instagram, Discord, and 11 other companies(Character.AI)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced investigations into 15 companies, including Character.AI, Reddit, Instagram, and Discord, for potential violations of the SCOPE Act and TDPSA concerning children's privacy. The investigations target practices such as unauthorized sharing of minors' personal data and failure to provide parental controls. This action is part of Texas's broader initiative to enforce data privacy laws.

LowChildren's DataConsent FailureNotice Failure
TXInvestigation

Character.AI

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into Character.AI and fourteen other companies, including Reddit, Instagram, and Discord, for potential violations of the SCOPE Act and TDPSA regarding children's privacy and safety. The investigations focus on unauthorized sharing of minors' data and lack of parental controls. No penalties have been imposed yet as the investigations are ongoing.

HighChildren's DataConsent FailureNotice Failure
TXSettlement

Pieces Technologies

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton settled with Pieces Technologies for making deceptive claims about the accuracy of its healthcare AI products used in Texas hospitals. The company advertised an error rate of '<1 per 100,000' which was found inaccurate. The settlement requires Pieces to accurately disclose product accuracy and ensure hospital staff understand the limitations.

LowNotice Failure
TXSettlement

Meta (formerly known as Facebook)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a $1.4 billion settlement with Meta over the company’s decade-long unauthorized capture of Texans’ facial geometry via its Tag Suggestions feature, which used facial recognition software without providing notice or obtaining informed consent. The practices violated Texas’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI) and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as Meta automatically enabled the feature for all Texans without explaining its functionality or seeking permission. This is the largest privacy settlement ever obtained by a single state attorney general, with Meta required to pay the penalty over five years and cease the unlawful biometric data practices.

CriticalBiometric DataConsent FailureNotice Failure

$1.4B

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