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 of mass surveillance. Among the sued giants are Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and TCL.
The foundation of the allegations is the way in which the technology Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is used. According to investigators' findings, this software not only suggests new films, but actively "scans" the user's screen. The data from the lawsuit indicates that the devices can take screenshots at a frequency of two frames per second.
This action encompasses everything that appears on the display:
Content from streaming services and traditional television.
Images from connected gaming consoles.
Private photos and videos sent via AirPlay or Google Cast.
Footage from home security cameras displayed on the screen.
The prosecution claims that manufacturers are violating the law on unfair trade practices. A key argument is the fact that consent for tracking is "hidden in a thicket 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 the brands Hisense and TCL, Paxton raises the issue of their connections to the Chinese government. There are concerns that the collected data on user habits may be accessible to foreign intelligence services, which the prosecution considers a direct threat to national security.
Source: Official statements from the Texas Attorney General's Office (OAG). Technical and market analyses from FlatpanelsHD.
