Smart TV viewing-data collection is back in court. The core allegation is simple: televisions can identify what people watch, when they watch, and how long they watch, often without clear consent. In December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits against five of the world's largest television manufacturers: Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL. The charge? Secretly harvesting consumer viewing data through technology embedded in their smart TVs—without meaningful consent. The case is about whether consumers were meaningfully told what was happening inside devices already sitting in their homes. The Accused Let's meet the defendants in what may be the largest smart TV privacy case in history: The Big 5: Samsung — South Korean electronics giant LG — South Korean competitor Sony — Japanese electronics conglomerate Hisense — Chinese state-connected manufacturer TCL — Chinese state-connected manufacturer Combined, these companies represent the majority of smart TVs sold in the United States. Every single one of them allegedly deployed surveillance technology in their products. How ACR Technology Works The spying mechanism is called Automated Content Recognition (ACR). Here's how it allegedly works: The Technical Process: Your smart TV captures screenshots of what you're watching—every few seconds These screenshots are compared against a database of known content The TV identifies exactly what you're viewing (Netflix, cable, gaming, etc.) This data is transmitted to the manufacturer's servers The data is sold to advertisers, data brokers, and third parties What They Collect: Every show, movie, or video you watch Your viewing schedule and habits How long you watch each program What apps you use When your TV is on and off Potentially, what's happening in your living room "The TV doesn't just know what you're watching. It knows when you pause, when you rewind, and when you fall asleep during a documentary about corporate surveillance." — Allegedly our editorial team The Chinese Connection The lawsuit raises particular concerns about Hisense and TCL, both Chinese-owned companies: National Security Implications: Chinese law requires companies to share data with the government upon request The CCP has demonstrated willingness to use corporate data for intelligence purposes Smart TVs in millions of American homes could theoretically provide surveillance capabilities Previous Concerns: Huawei and ZTE were banned from US telecom infrastructure over similar fears TikTok faced forced divestiture over data security concerns Smart TVs represent an even more intimate surveillance vector having a Chinese state-connected company's camera and microphone in your bedroom is a choice. But it's a choice most people didn't know they were making. The Vizio Precedent This isn't the first time smart TV manufacturers have been caught spying: The 2017 Vizio Settlement: Vizio paid $17 million to settle FTC charges They had been collecting viewing data from 11 million TVs since 2014 Data was sold to advertisers without user consent The company claimed it was for "viewing data analytics" What Changed: Absolutely nothing, apparently Other manufacturers continued the same practices The fines were considered a cost of doing business Consumers remained largely unaware The Opt-Out Illusion Smart TV manufacturers will tell you that you can "opt out" of data collection. Let's examine this claim: The Reality of Opting Out: Settings are buried in complex menu systems Options use confusing technical language Some data collection continues regardless of settings Opting out may disable core TV features Settings reset after software updates The Consent Theater: Privacy policies are 20+ pages of legal jargon Most consumers click "Accept All" to use their new TV The choice is between surveillance and a non-functional device Children and elderly users cannot meaningfully consent this isn't consent. It's coercion with extra steps. What the Data Reveals The data collected by smart TVs is extraordinarily revealing: Personal Insights: Political affiliation (based on news channel preferences) Health conditions (medical shows, pharmaceutical ads) Financial status (premium channels vs. free content) Relationship status (romantic comedies vs. action movies) Sleep patterns (when the TV turns off) Daily routines (morning news, evening shows) Aggregate Power: Combined with other data sources, TV viewing creates complete profiles Advertisers can target based on emotional states inferred from content Insurance companies could theoretically access health-related viewing patterns Employers could learn about employee lifestyles The Broader Implications This lawsuit represents something larger than just television privacy: The IoT Surveillance Problem: Smart TVs are just one of many internet-connected devices in your home Smart speakers, thermostats, fridges, and cameras all collect data Together, they create a full surveillance network you invited inside The Corporate Data Economy: Your viewing habits are worth money to advertisers TV manufacturers discovered they could subsidize hardware costs with data sales The true cost of a "cheap" smart TV is your privacy The Regulatory Gap: No full federal privacy law exists in the United States State-by-state enforcement creates a patchwork of protections Companies exploit the lack of unified regulation Strengthening Your Defenses Immediate Actions: Disable ACR in your TV's settings (search for "viewing data" or "ACR") Disconnect your smart TV from WiFi and use a separate streaming device Cover or disable the camera and microphone if your TV has them Read the privacy policy (we know, but still) Longer Term: Support full federal privacy legislation Consider "dumb" TVs or monitors with separate streaming devices Demand transparency from manufacturers about data practices Support organizations fighting for digital privacy rights For the Truly Paranoid: Buy a commercial display (no smart features) Use a projector (harder to embed surveillance) Build your own media center with open-source software Move to a cabin in the woods (no judgment) The Bottom Line Your smart TV is not your friend. It's a surveillance device that also happens to show you Netflix. The Texas AG's lawsuit against the Big 5 is a step toward accountability, but the fundamental problem remains: we've filled our homes with devices that spy on us, and most people have no idea. They didn't ask if your TV could watch you back. They just made sure it did. Remember: The screen you're staring at right now? It might be staring back. Choose your devices accordingly. --- _This article is part of our ongoing coverage of IoT surveillance. For more on smart home privacy risks, see our exposé on smart home spying and Roomba floor plan sales._