Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Netflix over claims it not only spies on you by collecting data without your permission but has also designed its service to keep you hooked — and your kids.
According to the lawsuit, Netflix claims that it doesn’t gather “extensive” user data but is actually tracking sensitive behavior (such as viewing activity and device use) that is sold to ad tech companies and data brokers for “billions” of dollars every year without subscribers’ knowledge or consent. This includes kids’ profiles, the Attorney General’s office says.
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The suit also maintains that Netflix is designed to be “addictive” and steer users into taking the actions it wants, such as autoplaying shows. Even children are encouraged to keep watching for “extended periods,” according to the Attorney General’s office.
Texas hopes to find Netflix in violation of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. If successful, the suit would block Netflix from collecting and sharing Texan customers’ data without clear notice and would require parental consent for children’s data. It would also demand that autoplay be turned off by default for kids’ profiles. The lawsuit could be expensive, as Netflix might pay penalties of up to $10,000 per violation — up to $250,000 for seniors.
“Respectfully to the great state of Texas and Attorney General Paxton, this lawsuit lacks merit and is based on inaccurate and distorted information. Netflix takes our members’ privacy seriously and complies with privacy and data‑protection laws everywhere we operate,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement to How-To Geek. “We look forward to addressing the Texas Attorney General’s allegations in court and further explaining our industry-leading, kid‑friendly parental controls and transparent privacy practices.”
How will the Texas lawsuit affect my Netflix service?
Streaming might become less personal
If the Texas Attorney General succeeds with the lawsuit, Netflix would have to more explicitly tell you what it’s collecting and get your clear permission when it asks. You’d also be less likely to see ads related to what you’re watching. Your kids would also have to manually play the next episode of a show unless you say otherwise, so they can’t watch whole Paw Patrol seasons without grabbing the remote.
Netflix won’t face a permanent ban unless it refuses to comply. However, Texas wants a temporary restraining order that would bar the allegedly unlawful data collection — there may be an interruption to your service if Netflix doesn’t have a solution in time.
There are implications for other streaming services as well. It’s common for rivals like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+ to collect at least some data for tracking views, even if it doesn’t necessarily leave the company. They may have to alter their own data collection and autoplay practices in Texas to avoid similar lawsuits.
This won’t necessarily lead to varying app features by state, but the days of one-size-fits-all U.S. streaming service functionality might be limited unless Netflix and others apply changes across the country.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four