Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton obtained a temporary restraining order against Hisense, a Chinese smart TV manufacturer, to halt its collection of Texans' personal data through Automated Content Recognition technology without consent. The technology captures every sound and image on the TVs every 500 milliseconds and sells the data, with access granted to the Chinese Communist Party. The TRO prohibits Hisense from collecting, using, selling, sharing, disclosing, or transferring ACR data about Texans while the case continues.
The court order prohibits Hisense from collecting ACR data and from using, selling, sharing, disclosing, or transferring any ACR data about Texans during the pendency of the case.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements (for procurement of Hisense smart TVs) and any data processing agreements with Hisense. Focus on clauses governing data collection (especially Automated Content Recognition/ACR), consent mechanisms, third-party data sharing, cross-border data transfers, government access requests, data retention, and breach notification. Changes may be needed to require explicit opt-in consent for ACR, prohibit sharing with foreign governments like the CCP, restrict international data transfers, mandate transparency reports, include audit rights, and enforce data minimization principles.
Entity
Hisense
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-secures-court-order-stopping-ccp-aligned-smart-tv-company-spying-texans
attorney general paxton sues five major tv companies includi
https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-paxton-sues-five-major-tv-companies-including-some-ties-ccp-spying-texans
Texas Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/privacy
$3.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement requiring Temu to protect Texans’ sensitive personal data from exposure to the Chinese Communist Party and to strengthen product-safety practices. Temu must pay Texas $3 million, comply with data-security requirements backed by a potential $8 million annual penalty, conduct annual independent product testing, and take specified action on products found to contain harmful substances.
$773.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that a multistate coalition had secured an opioid settlement with Albertsons, which would require the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million nationally once final. Texas and its political subdivisions may receive up to $57.8 million for opioid abatement; the release does not identify privacy violations.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Gerber Products Company and Nestlé USA, Inc., alleging that Gerber made deceptive safety and testing claims while its baby food contained dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals. The lawsuit asserts claims under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act; the release does not report a settlement, monetary penalty, or court order.
$1.5M
The Texas Attorney General obtained a judgment holding Rubinsky Roofing LLC liable for 27 violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, including deceptive practices involving older consumers and payment for unnecessary or unfinished repairs. The judgment requires more than $1.5 million in civil penalties, allocates at least $500,000 to consumer restitution, and permanently bars the company and its owner from the practices at issue.
The Texas Attorney General opened an investigation into UnitedHealth Group over allegations that its insurance-benefit administration and patient-care decisions denied Texans medically necessary healthcare. The AG issued Civil Investigative Demands to collect evidence; the release announces no penalty or remedy.
$7.5M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $7.5 million settlement with Tris Pharmaceuticals over alleged misrepresentations about the efficacy of Dyanavel XR, an ADHD drug marketed for children. The release says the company overstated the drug’s efficacy and directed sales representatives to make misleading claims to doctors, including Medicaid providers.