Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a consumer alert on Friday, warning residents that their smart TVs may be collecting and sharing personal viewing data without their knowledge.
The warning comes after Paxton sued five major TV manufacturers for allegedly spying on consumers through Automated Content Recognition technology.
The companies named in the lawsuit include Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL Technology Group. Some of these manufacturers have ties to the Chinese Communist Party, according to Paxton’s office.
“I’d urge Texans TV shopping for Christmas to avoid purchasing a television that allows Big Tech to illegally collect your data,” Paxton said. “All across Texas, there are smart TVs acting as … uninvited, invisible digital invaders.”
A temporary restraining order has already been secured against Hisense. The order prevents the company from collecting, using, selling, sharing, disclosing, or transferring consumer data.
“It’s vital that all Texans know that your TV may be monitoring and recording everything that happens on your screen,” Paxton added.
The attorney general’s office provided general instructions for turning off data collection features on smart TVs. Users should access their TV’s settings menu and navigate to privacy or system options.
Within these menus, consumers can typically find toggles for “Smart TV Experience,” “Viewing Information Services,” or similar features. Turning these options off should disable ACR technology.
Additional privacy settings may include options to turn off personalized advertising or prevent the sale of personal data. These features often appear under names like “Interest-Based Advertising” or “Content Recommendation.”
The specific menu locations and option names vary by manufacturer and model. Consumers should consult their TV’s manual for detailed instructions.
