Texas AG Sues CCP-Linked TV Giants for Invasive Dwelling Spying on Texans
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.
Paxton singled out Hisense and TCL, both Chinese firms with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), warning that China’s National Security Law enables Beijing to seize U.S. consumer data harvested by these companies. In an X post announcing the suits, Paxton declared, “Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans’ devices inside their own homes.”
ACR software operates as an “uninvited, invisible digital invader,” capturing screenshots of TV screens every 500 milliseconds, tracking real-time viewing across streaming, cable, and devices, then transmitting data back to manufacturers without consent. These firms sell the information for targeted advertising profits, exposing sensitive details like passwords and bank info. Paxton emphasized, “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.”
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.