Posted on 12/20/2025 10:29:56 AM PST by Twotone
The Texas attorney general says television companies have become unwelcome visitors in consumers' homes.
Ken Paxton announced five separate lawsuits, including two against Chinese companies, alleging that the television companies are secretly spying on Texans by recording what they watch at home.
The Texas AG said in a press release that the method through which the companies were conducting their spying is called Automated Content Recognition technology. Labeling it an "uninvited" and "invisible" digital invader, Paxton said that the software is capable of capturing screenshots of a user's TV display every 500 milliseconds.
Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL each have individual lawsuits against them.
This effectively monitors viewing activity in real time, without the user's knowledge, the state of Texas alleged.
The consumer data is then allegedly sold to target ads across platforms for profit. This puts sensitive information such as passwords, bank information, and other personal information at risk, the press release added.
Each lawsuit states that Texans never agreed to be part of each company's "Watchware" and that these televisions are "watching you back."
Furthermore, the lawsuits state that the "mass surveillance of consumers" violates Texas law, specifically the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which prohibits "false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices."
Each company "chose data extraction and advertising dollars over honesty and respect for consumer privacy. That's illegal," the lawsuits read.
Samsung, LG, and Sony predominantly manufacture their TVs in Mexico, with other parts are made in countries like Vietnam, South Korea, or Japan.
TCL and Hisense are both Chinese companies that operate and manufacture in China.
"Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans' devices inside their own homes," Paxton said in an official statement. "This conduct is invasive, deceptive, and unlawful. The fundamental right to privacy will be protected in Texas because owning a television does not mean surrendering your personal information to Big Tech or foreign adversaries."
LG and Hisense have publicly stated to outlets like Newsweek and Texas Scorecard that they would not comment on pending legal matters.
Sony told Blaze News that it "does not comment on pending legal matters."
Blaze News also reached out to Samsung and TCL for comment on the lawsuit. Neither provided a response by the time of this publication.
In America the TV watches you.
I THOUGHT NEILSEN DID THAT KIND OF SURVEYING
Watching those skin flick channels can come back to bite you as the spy blackmails you!
Orwell never imagined that people would want and eagerly pay for the technologies he described.
Well that’s just great. My TCL has built-in Roku. Will MI follow suit? What’s in it for me?...Probably next to nothing!
The first time I saw a “Smart TV” with built-in WiFi streaming I knew what it was really for.
“I THOUGHT NEILSEN DID THAT KIND OF SURVEYING”
With Neilsen you chose and actively participate.
The TV’s here capture video and send it back “home” where it is compared to their database to determine title.
Whenever you watch a streaming service, you have specified content you want to be sent to your device. Same for cable or satellite tv, so capturing your screen is unnecessary and redundant. So, other than off-air or when used to view DVDs, etc it seems to me this suit has no merit, even if the claim are true.
Just don’t connect the Roku TV to your WiFi and it can’t phone home. Or your WiFi refrigerator. Or your WiFi crock pot.
It’s kind of an exercise in futility, though. All your other digital devices are spying on you 24/7 already. The only way to avoid it is to trash all your smartphones and PCs.
Me too. I have a tv but it's only used as a monitor on a security cam system. "They" can watch my outdoor spaces if it pleases them, and since the system is wired I don't think that's helpful for them.
The only thing in my home (other than 1 smart phone) that's got wireless is one computer, and I don't do much besides FR and educational youtube vids. Even my printer doesn't connect wirelessly -- though it wanted to! I had quite a time firing it up without a wireless connection.
Trust no one! :)
Not to be fanatical but I also have a shutter on the laptop camera lens and a bandaid on the phone. :)
Any spies watching me are going to be bored to tears.
When did this become secret ? LOL
There’s just no “cutting the cord” with these guys!
Don't forget to trash the car!
Had my HVAC replaced, including the thermostat.
Installation guy asked if I wanted a “smart thermostat” that would connect to my wireless network. Told him “You are out of your rabid-ass mind”. We both chuckled.
Have a big-screen TV in the living room. The networking is turned off. It can’t phone home.
I also don’t run windows here.
You can always air gap your TV.
The only way to avoid it is to trash all your smartphones and PCs. Don’t forget to trash the car!
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Driving cross-country, got mazel (google map) running on the cell phone. Wife starts singing something and the phone says “one moment please”.
The look on her face was Priceless. Explained it to her.
Just go to Settings -> Privacy and address each item there.
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