Texas alleges Netflix monitored users, including children, without consent
Texas alleges Netflix of collecting data from users, including children, without their consent and using design features to keep them engaged on the platform. The lawsuit, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, accuses Netflix of “spying” on its users by recording and monetizing billions of pieces of information about their behavior, despite the company’s previous statements suggesting otherwise.
Details of the lawsuit against Netflix
The complaint states that Netflix promoted itself as different from other big tech companies by not collecting or monetizing user data for advertising purposes. It quotes former Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who in 2019 and 2020 said the company did not and would not engage in such practices. However, the lawsuit alleges that Netflix used “addictive” design features, such as auto-play, combined with extensive logging of user activity to keep viewers on the platform longer.
The filing explains that Netflix recorded billions of technical events, including what users clicked on, how long they lingered on content, and other interactions. In 2022, the company allegedly began sharing data collected from children and families with commercial data brokers, generating billions of dollars in revenue.
The lawsuit claims that Netflix sold subscriptions as an alternative to Big Tech surveillance, with the promise that users could pay monthly to avoid tracking. Texas Attorney General Paxton argues that Netflix broke this trust by building a data-collection system that subscribers were meant to escape.
Legal claims and requested actions
Texas asserts that Netflix violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which prohibits false, deceptive, or misleading acts in commerce. The attorney general’s office seeks a court order requiring Netflix to delete any data collected deceptively from Texans, stop processing their data for targeted advertising, and disable auto-play by default on children’s profiles.
This lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny of platform features like auto-play and infinite scroll, which critics say encourage unhealthy, addictive consumption of content. The case follows recent legal actions in California targeting companies like Meta and YouTube over similar concerns about addictive design.
Netflix’s response
Netflix has denied the allegations, stating the lawsuit “lacks merit and is based on inaccurate and distorted information.” A company spokesperson emphasized that Netflix takes privacy seriously and complies with data protection laws in all regions where it operates.
