US judge hits Samsung with restraining order over ‘spying on’ smart TV user

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TL;DR

• Samsung is one of five TV manufacturers accused of illegally collecting automated content recognition (ACR) data from TVs in the state of Texas.
• A new temporary restraining order bars Samsung from collecting ACR data within the state.
• A hearing to potentially impose a temporary injunction against Samsung is scheduled for January 9.

Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against five TV manufacturers for “spying on Texans” through the use of automated content recognition (ACR). In the suits, Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL are all accused of surreptitiously harvesting screenshots of users’ TV content for the purpose of targeted advertising. This week, Paxton’s office announced a new development: a judge in Texas has issued a temporary restraining order against Samsung, stopping the practice within the state.

As spotted by SamMobile, the new restraining order signed by State District Judge Benjamin Smith calls for Samsung and anyone working with the company to halt any collection, sharing, or use of ACR data related to users in Texas, citing violations of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. A hearing on the case has been scheduled this Friday, January 9.






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