Texas declared legal war on Netflix. State Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a 59-page lawsuit accusing the streaming giant on Monday collect personal data from its users, including children, without their knowledge or consent, and then sell it to third parties to generate billions of dollars.

The accusation is direct and quite serious. According to Paxton, Netflix lied for years to its subscribers by claiming that it did not collect or share personal information. The d it cites even a statement from co-founder Reed Hastings in 2019, where he publicly stated “we don’t collect”anything”, in contrast to giants like Google or Facebook.

The reality, according to Texas, was completely different. Netflix tracked viewing habits, searches, devices, home networks and comp guidelines within the app, everything to build advertising profiles that then sold to data brokers and advertising technology companies.

The lawsuit was filed in the Collin County District near Dallas and alleges that Netflix violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Children in the watch and the “dark traps” of autoplay

What is most outrageous in the lawsuit is the part that involves minors. Texas accuses Netflix of collecting behavioral data from children's profiles, the same ones that the platform promotes as safe spaces for children.

Furthermore, the prosecutor points to something that everyone who has Netflix knows well: autoplay. That function that starts the next episode without asking your permission o it is rated in demand as a “dark pattern” designed to keep users, especially children, glued to the screen for as much time as possible.

The objective, according to the text of the lawsuit, is clear: “to hook children and families in front of the screen, collect their data while they are trapped there, and then monetize that information.”

What Texas asks of Netflix and how the company responded

The consequences that Texas seeks are specific:

Netflix wouldn't stay silent. A company spokesperson responded that the lawsuit “has no merit”and is based on inaccurate and distorted information,” adding that the company complies with privacy laws in all the markets where it operates.

It is worth clarifying that the accusations have not yet been proven in a court. The case is in its initial stages.

Why did Texas sue Netflix for privacy? Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses Netflix of collecting personal data from users, including minors, without their consent or, and sell them to advertising brokers. This, according to Texas, contradicts years of public statements by the company and violates the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

What can happen to Netflix if it loses its lawsuit?Texas demands Netflix delete illegally-collected data, stop using it for advertising without p permit and pay fines of up to $10,000 for each individual violation. The economic impact could be millionaires given the volume of users in the state.

Is Netflix Really Spying on Children? That's What the Lawsuit Alleges. Texas Claims Netflix Collected Behavioral Data from Profiles Designed for Minors and used features like autoplay to keep them watching for longer. Netflix denies the allegations and says it complies with all current privacy regulations.