Five TV makers sued for taking screenshots of everything you watch

Texas has sued five major TV makers accusing them of taking screenshots of everything you watch and selling the data. A class action lawsuit is also taking shape in New York.

When you watch TV, who is really watching?

For years, Smart TVs and Google TVs have used ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) technology to continuously capture screenshots of everything displayed on your TV – even over HDMI. The data is used to track viewing habits and sold for targeted advertising. This practice was documented in a 2024 report.

 Also read: Report: Smart TVs & streaming sticks are a "privacy nightmare"


Sued by the state of Texas
 How ACR works
On December 15, 2025, the US state of Texas sued five major TV manufacturers – Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony and TCL – over their use of ACR technology and the resale of collected data.

- "Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans’ devices inside their own homes," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

- "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."

Just two days later, on December 17, a temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued against Hisense, demanding the company halt its use of ACR in Texas for the time being. On January 6, 2026, a similar order was issued against Samsung, although it has since been temporarily suspended ahead of a later hearing.

 Also read: Report: Apple TV 4K tops privacy with no invasive viewing tracking (ACR)


Class action lawsuit in New York
The lawsuits in Texas have set off a snowball effect. On January 9, 2026, a class action lawsuit against Samsung was filed in New York, targeting the same practices; the use of ACR technology and the resale of collected viewing data.

The lawsuit was reported by Top Class Actions, a publication that reports on US class action cases open to consumers.

- "This data includes information about programs watched, content streamed through third-party apps, and even information displayed when the TV is used as a computer monitor," it states.

The group behind the New York lawsuit further argues that the practice is also illegal in several other US states.

Europeans benefit from some protection under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but ACR technology remains widely deployed on Smart TVs across Europe.

- Source: Texas Attorney General (1, 2), Top Class Actions