Katarzyna Petru
The home technology market is facing an unprecedented legal confrontation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is expanding actions against the world's largest television manufacturers, accusing them of turning Americans' living rooms into tools for mass surveillance. Among the sued giants are Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and TCL.
The basis of the accusations is the way technology Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is used. According to investigators' findings, this software not only suggests new films but also actively “scans” the user's screen. Data from the lawsuit indicates that devices can take screenshots at a rate of two frames per second.
This process encompasses everything that appears on the display:
Content from streaming services and traditional television.
Images from connected gaming consoles.
Private photos and videos transmitted via AirPlay or Google Cast.
Footage from home security cameras displayed on the screen.
The prosecutor's office claims that manufacturers are violating the law on unfair trading practices. A key argument is the fact that consent for tracking is "hidden in a jungle of legal jargon," and consumers are often unaware that their data is being monetised and sold to advertising companies. Additionally, the case has a strong political context. In the case of brands Hisense and TCL, Paxton raises concerns about their connections to the Chinese government. There is a fear that the collected data on user habits could be accessible to foreign intelligence agencies, which the prosecutor's office sees as a direct threat to national security.
Source: Official statements from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas (OAG). Technical and market analyses from the FlatpanelsHD service.
