Samsung has reached a settlement with the Texas Attorney General to change how its smart TVs handle user data. Following a lawsuit alleging the company used Automated Content Recognition (ACR) to track viewing habits without proper authorization, Samsung has agreed to the following:

• Express Consent: Samsung must stop collecting or processing ACR viewing data from Texas users unless they provide explicit, informed consent.
• Interface Updates: The company will update its smart TV interfaces to include “clear and conspicuous” disclosures and consent screens.
• Privacy Transparency: New prompts will explain how data is tracked and handled, allowing consumers to make an informed choice before any information is harvested.

The agreement follows a crackdown by Attorney General Ken Paxton on several major manufacturers, including Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL, for similar data practices. While Samsung maintains its original policies followed state law, it is the first manufacturer in this group to reach a settlement.