Netflix is accused of illegally collecting user data in a lawsuit filed in Texas by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
In the 59-page lawsuit, Paxton claims that every time users watch Netflix, the platform is also ‘watching’ and recording their activities.
According to a press release, Netflix is accused of acting as a big data keeper that tracks viewing habits, user preferences and other sensitive behavioral data involving users in Texas, including children.
The lawsuit also alleges that Netflix uses features that can cause young viewers to become addicted to the streaming platform.
Among the issues in question is the ‘autoplay’ function that is enabled by default, including for children’s accounts, where new episodes automatically play after a show ends.
Paxton claims that Netflix is not the ad-free and child-friendly platform it promotes to users.
He also alleges that the company is deceiving users while exploiting their personal data to generate billions of dollars in profits.
In the suit, the plaintiffs are asking the court to issue an injunction to stop Netflix from collecting or disclosing user data throughout the litigation process.
The complaint also seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
