Texas Sues Netflix for Allegedly Spying on Children and Collecting Data Without Consent

The Texas Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, accusing the streaming giant of illegally collecting and monetizing personal data from both adults and children without their consent. Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that Netflix operates a massive behavioral surveillance program, tracking viewing habits, device information, and household networks to build detailed consumer profiles. The suit claims Netflix misled users by presenting itself as an ad-free, kid-friendly platform while secretly sharing data with commercial brokers like Experian and ad-tech firms such as Google and The Trade Desk. Furthermore, the litigation argues that features like autoplay are designed to be addictive, keeping users engaged to maximize data extraction. Paxton seeks injunctive relief, civil penalties, and a jury trial under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, specifically requesting the disabling of autoplay on children’s profiles. Netflix has rejected the allegations as meritless, stating it complies with all privacy laws and maintains transparent practices. The lawsuit highlights concerns over digital privacy and the monetization of user behavior in the tech industry.