Update Jan. 6, 2026, 1:49 PM ET: After publishing this story, Samsung told BleepingComputer that the Texas court vacated the temporary restraining order that blocked Samsung from collecting smart TV viewing data the next day. We added more information at the end of the story and updated the title accordingly.
Initially, the State of Texas obtained a short-lived temporary restraining order (TRO) against Samsung, which prohibited the South Korean company from collecting audio and visual data about what Texas consumers watch on their TVs.
Like other major TV manufacturers, Samsung uses Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology to capture periodic screenshots, analyze viewing activity, and identify users’ content preferences. In turn, the company uses this data to deliver more targeted advertising.
Meanwhile, Texas also filed lawsuits last month against Sony, LG, and China-based companies Hisense and TCL Technology Group Corporation. The state cited the unlawful use of ACR technology and raised concerns about U.S. user data potentially being accessed by China.
Texas Alleges Secretive Data Collection Practices
According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ACR captures screenshots every 500 milliseconds without consumers’ knowledge or consent.
Based on these allegations, the District Court of Collin County in Texas ruled that the practice violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). As a result, the court ordered Samsung Electronics America Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to stop using, selling, collecting, and transferring data from Texas-based TVs until January 19.
Court Cites Deceptive Enrollment and China Data Concerns
Signed on January 5 at 10:10 AM, the TRO document lists several justifications for issuing the temporary restraining order. These include Samsung’s allegedly deceptive ACR enrollment practices and the claim “that the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”) has access to the information.”
“The Court finds that there is good cause to believe that SAMSUNG’s process for enrolling consumers in the ACR data collection program is false, deceptive, or misleading because it does not disclose to consumers how much data is being collected about them, how the data is actually being used, and that the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”) has access to the information,”
— Temporary Restraining Order against Samsung
Furthermore, the court emphasized that the enrollment process remains confusing and opaque. According to the ruling, Samsung pressures users to consent to ACR through “dark patterns” and makes it practically impossible to fully opt out of the data collection mechanism, allowing users only to “limit the use” of collected data.
Additionally, the court noted that users can consent to ACR data collection with a single click. However, the company provides details about the program only after enrollment, and reviewing the full privacy statements and disclosures requires more than 200 clicks.
“Consent from consumers is not informed, privacy choices are not meaningful, users cannot reasonably understand the surveillance model, and the system defaults towards maximal data extraction,”
— TRO document
The TRO applied to all company “officers, agents, employees, and all other persons in active concert or participation with them,” preventing them from continuing to use, sell, transfer, collect, or share ACR data related to Texas consumers.
Judge Vacates TRO One Day Later
However, one day after granting the TRO, the same judge ruled that it should not remain in effect and vacated the order.
“The Court finds, sua sponte, that the [TRO obtained by the State of Texas against Samsung] should be set aside,”
— Court order
After publication of the original article, Samsung Electronics America confirmed to BleepingComputer that the court vacated the TRO on Tuesday, January 6.
A company representative also stated that Samsung’s TRO hearing remains scheduled for Friday, January 9.
Although the decision does not end the lawsuit, the Texas Attorney General’s action ultimately failed to prevent Samsung’s alleged collection of TV users’ viewing data.
BleepingComputer contacted the Texas Attorney General’s Office for comment regarding the court nullifying the order and potential future action; however, a response was not immediately available.
Source: BleepingComputer, Bill Toulas
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