A legal battle in Texas has placed the data collection practices of major smart TV manufacturers under intense scrutiny. At the center of the controversy is a technology called Automated Content Recognition (ACR), which is used by companies like Samsung, LG, and Sony. The state's Attorney General has filed suit, alleging these companies are secretly "spying" on residents. This article delves into the recent court order against Samsung, the technology in question, and what it means for consumer privacy.
A Temporary Restraining Order Is Issued
On January 7, 2026, a Texas state judge granted a significant preliminary measure in an ongoing lawsuit. State District Judge Benjamin Smith signed a temporary restraining order (TRO) specifically against Samsung Electronics. This order legally compels Samsung, and any of its partners, to immediately cease the collection, use, sharing, or selling of ACR data gathered from smart TVs within the state of Texas. The TRO is a direct response to allegations that Samsung's practices violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. This legal action stems from a lawsuit filed in December by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against five TV manufacturers: Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and TCL.
Legal Timeline:
- Lawsuit Filed: December 2025
- TRO Issued: January 7, 2026
- Injunction Hearing: January 9, 2026
- TRO Expiration (if no injunction): January 19, 2026
The Core Technology: Automated Content Recognition
The lawsuit hinges on the function of Automated Content Recognition, a common feature in modern smart TVs. ACR technology works by taking frequent screenshots of what is displayed on the television screen. According to the complaints, these captures can occur as often as every 500 milliseconds—or twice per second—regardless of whether the content is from a streaming service, cable box, or gaming console. This data is then transmitted back to the TV manufacturer's servers. The primary commercial use for this data is targeted advertising; by knowing what a user watches, companies can build detailed profiles to serve personalized ads on the TV and potentially sell that data to third-party advertisers.
ACR Data Collection Frequency: Every 500 milliseconds (0.5 seconds, or approximately twice per second).
The Allegations of Inadequate Consent
A key argument from the Texas Attorney General's office is that user consent for this data harvesting is effectively meaningless. While Samsung TV users do encounter a privacy agreement during setup, the state contends that the disclosures about ACR are "hidden, vague, and meaningless." The lawsuit argues that the average consumer is not adequately informed about the pervasive, near-constant screenshotting of their viewing habits. This alleged lack of transparent, meaningful consent forms the basis for the deceptive trade practices accusation, suggesting Samsung is collecting highly personal data under false pretenses.
The Immediate Impact and Next Steps
The temporary restraining order against Samsung is now in effect, but its duration is limited. A critical hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2026, where both sides will present evidence. At this hearing, the judge will decide whether to replace the short-term TRO with a longer-lasting temporary injunction. If the court does not grant an injunction, the restraining order will automatically expire on January 19. It is important to note that the current order applies only to Samsung and only within Texas. The cases against LG, Sony, Hisense, and TCL are proceeding separately and are not affected by this specific ruling.
Broader Context and Consumer Actions
This case is part of a larger trend of state-level legal challenges to tech company data practices. Attorney General Paxton has a history of such actions, including a 2022 lawsuit against Google over facial recognition features. The outcome in Texas could inspire similar actions in other states or lead companies to change their practices regionally, as seen with features geofenced to comply with local laws. For consumers concerned about privacy, the immediate recourse is to disable ACR on their devices. On most Samsung TVs, this setting is found in the "Privacy Choices" or "Settings" menu under a option typically labeled "Viewing Information Services." Disabling this will stop the screenshot data collection, though the interface and naming may vary slightly by manufacturer and model year.
How to Disable ACR on Samsung TVs: Navigate to Settings > Privacy Choices and uncheck the box for "Viewing Information Services."
Looking Ahead for Tech and Privacy
The January 9 hearing will be a pivotal moment, indicating the strength of the state's evidence and the court's view on the privacy implications of ACR. A ruling in favor of Texas could force Samsung and other manufacturers to overhaul their consent processes nationwide or risk a patchwork of state regulations. Regardless of the legal outcome, this lawsuit has successfully cast a public spotlight on a pervasive but often overlooked data collection method embedded in millions of living rooms, prompting a necessary debate about the boundaries of consumer surveillance in the age of connected devices.