{"id":2602341,"date":"2026-05-13T17:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-sues-netflix-for-allegedly-spying-on-residents-including-children\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T17:52:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:52:36","slug":"texas-sues-netflix-for-allegedly-spying-on-residents-including-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-sues-netflix-for-allegedly-spying-on-residents-including-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Sues Netflix for Allegedly &#8216;Spying&#8217; on Residents, Including Children"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftexas-sues-netflix-for-allegedly-spying-on-residents-including-children%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2602341&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Texas Attorney General ken Paxton announced that he has sued Netflix, alleging the company spies on Texans-including children-by collecting extensive user viewing and behavioral data without consent. The lawsuit claims Netflix secretly relies on tracking and logging of viewing habits, preferences, devices, and household\/network details, and that this data is shared with third-party commercial brokers and merged with data from major ad-tech platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Paxton also criticized Netflix\u2019s autoplay features, arguing they encourage especially kids to watch longer. Netflix responded that the lawsuit \u201clacks merit,\u201d saying it complies with privacy and data-protection laws and that its controls and privacy practices are designed for children and are clear.<\/p>\n<p>The article places the case in a broader context of legal scrutiny against Big Tech for data mining and persuasive product design, referencing other recent verdicts involving Meta and Google\/YouTube related to design features that allegedly promote addiction among minors.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that he filed a lawsuit this week against Netflix for spying on Texans, including minors, and for collecting data without their consent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor years, Netflix represented to consumers that it did not collect or  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-candidates-asked-to-give-their-positions-on-banning-china-controlled-tiktok\/\" title=\"GOP candidates queried on stance regarding TikTok ban under Chinese control.\">extensive user data<\/a>. In reality, Netflix is a logging company that records and monetizes billions of behavioral events \u2014 and occasionally streams movies,\u201d a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/news\/releases\/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-netflix-spying-texas-kids-and-consumers-illegally-collecting-users\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">press release<\/a> from Paxton\u2019s office read.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNetflix uses intentional engineering to track and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >log users\u2019 viewing habits<\/a>, preferences, devices, household networks, application usage, and other sensitive behavioral data. Every interaction on the platform became a data point revealing information about the user. This tracking applied to not only adults\u2019 accounts, but also kids\u2019 profiles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The release went on to state that, \u201cNetflix has built a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-federal-government-is-tracking-the-unvaccinated\/\" title=\"The Federal Government Is ... the Unvaccinated\">surveillance program designed<\/a> to illegally collect and profit from Texans\u2019 personal data without their consent, and my office will do everything in our power to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/press\/N%20Petition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> alleged Netflix disseminated the information \u201cto commercial data brokers like Experian and Acxiom \u2014 entities entirely unrelated to streaming entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNetflix has also partnered with dominant ad\u2011tech platforms, including Google Display &#038; Video 360 and The Trade Desk, to further enable Netflix user data to be merged with information collected off the platform,\u201d the filing read.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit accused the platform of earning \u201cbillions of dollars every year by quietly deploying the exact playbook it publicly eschewed to lure consumers in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It argued that the \u201cbait-and-switch\u201d strategy has resulted in children and families becoming addicted so the company can mine their personal data and sell \u201clucrative intelligence for global advertising juggernauts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSimply put, this is deceptive conduct that violates Texas law,\u201d the lawsuit concluded.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Paxton took aim at the streaming giant\u2019s auto-play function, which encourages viewers, specifically children, to watch for longer periods of time.<\/p>\n<p>A Netflix representative issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/business\/media\/texas-accuses-netflix-spying-children-designing-addictive-features-new-rcna344599?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&#038;taid=6a032db276997b0001c3d38e&#038;utm_campaign=trueanthem&#038;utm_medium=social&#038;utm_source=twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> to NBC News saying the lawsuit \u201clacks merit and is based on inaccurate and distorted information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNetflix takes our members\u2019 privacy seriously and complies with privacy and data\u2011protection laws everywhere we operate,\u201d the representative explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe look forward to addressing the Texas Attorney General\u2019s allegations in court and further explaining our industry-leading, kid\u2011friendly parental controls and transparent privacy practices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This news comes as other Big Tech companies like Instagram and Meta have been heavily criticized for their data-mining practices, privacy violations, and addictive nature.<\/p>\n<p>Back in March, The New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/25\/technology\/social-media-trial-verdict.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> that a California jury found YouTube and Meta negligent of using certain design features that promoted addiction among minors.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8Big Tech loses addiction trial:<\/p>\n<p>A jury just found Meta and Google (YouTube) liable in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-jury-finds-meta-youtube-guilty-in-watershed-social-media-addiction-case-opens-door-for-eye-watering-damages\/\" title=\"Breaking: ... Finds ..., YouTube Guilty in Watershed Social Media Addiction Case, Opens Door for Eye-Watering Damages\">landmark social media addiction trial<\/a>, awarding $3 million in damages to the young plaintiff.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WJj7vd9xFg\">pic.twitter.com\/WJj7vd9xFg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gunther Eagleman\u2122 (@GuntherEagleman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GuntherEagleman\/status\/2036860674505150549?\">March 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Meta had to pay $4.2 million in combined compensatory and punitive damages, while YouTube had to pay $1.8 million.<\/p>\n<p>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-jury-finds-meta-youtube-guilty-watershed-social-media-addiction-case-opens-door-eye-watering-damages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">testified<\/a> during the trial and said the platform was not linked to any of the plaintiff\u2019s mental health issues.<\/p>\n<p>This verdict came shortly after a New Mexico jury decided that Meta should pay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/24\/technology\/meta-new-mexico-child-safety-violations.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$375 million<\/a> in a case brought by the state\u2019s attorney general, accusing the company of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sf-city-attorney-calls-out-teachers-unions-vaccine-demands-unlawful\/\" title=\"SF City Attorney Calls Out Teachers\u2019 Union\u2019s Vaccine Demands: \u2018Unlawful\u2019\">violating state law<\/a> by failing to protect users from child predators.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Texas AG Ken Paxton sued Netflix for spying and data theft<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2602342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Untitled-design-39.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4294,4585,5158,4325,3694],"class_list":["post-2602341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-children","tag-lawsuit","tag-netflix","tag-privacy","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Untitled-design-39.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602341"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602350,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602341\/revisions\/2602350"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}