Katarzyna Petru
The smart 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 the technology Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is used. According to the findings of the investigators, this software not only suggests new movies but actively "scans" the user's screen. Data from the lawsuit indicates that the devices can take snapshots at a frequency of two frames per second.
This activity encompasses everything that appears on the display:
Content from streaming services and traditional television.
The image from connected gaming consoles.
Private photos and videos transmitted via AirPlay or Google Cast.
Materials from home security cameras displayed on the screen.
The prosecutor's office 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 maze of legal jargon," and consumers are often unaware that their data is being monetized 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 is concern that the data collected about user habits may be accessible to foreign intelligence services, which the prosecutor's office considers 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.
