#automated-content-recognition

#automated-content-recognition

Samsung uses automated content recognition (ACR) technology, which can capture hundreds of images of what's on your TV screen each minute, without first obtaining Texans' expressed, informed consent. As mentioned earlier, the concern is that Samsung would use this information for targeted advertising. Although Samsung has disclosures in place and TV owners can opt out of ACR, Paxton finds that the disclosures are inadequate, vague, and run afoul of state law.

ACR in its simplest terms is an uninvited, invisible digital invader. This software can capture screenshots of a user's television display every 500 milliseconds, monitor viewing activity in real time, and transmit that information back to the company without the user's knowledge or consent. The companies then sell that consumer information to target ads across platforms for a profit. This technology puts users' privacy and sensitive information, such as passwords, bank information, and other personal information at risk.

Behold: Ken Paxton will now demonstrate that broken clocks are indeed right twice a day. The Texas Attorney General is notorious for, well, a very long list of reasons. But in this case, he at least appears to be doing consumers a solid: He sued five television companies for using ad-targeting spyware on their TVs. Texas sued Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense and TCL for allegedly recording what viewers watch without their consent.