Share and Follow
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits Monday against five major television manufacturers—Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL—for secretly spying on Texans inside their homes through invasive Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology.
In a bold legal maneuver, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against five major television manufacturers, spotlighting Hisense and TCL, both Chinese companies with significant connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Paxton warns that China’s National Security Law allows the Chinese government to access U.S. consumer data collected by these firms. Announcing the lawsuits, Paxton stated, “Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans’ devices inside their own homes.”
The lawsuits indicate Texas’s firm stance against foreign surveillance, especially as smart TV sales, dominated nearly 70% by these brands, continue to rise. Paxton is resolute in his mission to protect Texans from the deceptive practices of Big Tech and foreign threats.
Paxton’s office accuses the companies of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by concealing data collection, misrepresenting its use, and burying opt-out options to maximize extraction. The suits demand civil penalties, injunctions to halt practices, and court orders for clear disclosures. Hisense faces particular scrutiny, with warnings that new TVs activated over Christmas could immediately begin monitoring Texans unaware.
This action builds on Paxton’s aggressive campaign against CCP-linked entities threatening Texas privacy and security. In May, he targeted Chinese apps like CapCut and firms including Alibaba under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, demanding opt-outs and data deletion. November saw him probe a CCP-tied company’s role in state power facilities. Paxton’s office vows to continue battling any corporation, especially CCP proxies, endangering Texans.
The lawsuits signal Texas’s unyielding defense against foreign surveillance amid rising smart TV sales—nearly 70% from these brands. Paxton remains committed to shielding residents from deceptive practices by Big Tech and communist adversaries.
