Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Netflix on Monday, May 11, 2026 [1], alleging the company illegally collects user data.
The legal action targets the intersection of digital privacy and child safety. By accusing a major streaming giant of systemic surveillance, the state of Texas is challenging how tech companies monetize the behavior of minors.
Paxton said that Netflix violates Texas privacy laws by harvesting data from children and other consumers without their consent [1]. According to the filing, the company uses this information for targeted advertising and to create a platform designed to be addictive [2].
"Netflix's data collection practices amount to spying on Texas consumers, especially children," Paxton said [1].
The lawsuit, filed in a Texas state court, claims the service engages in unauthorized surveillance to maintain user engagement [3]. A spokesperson for the Texas Attorney General's office said the platform is designed to be addictive and to harvest data without consent [4].
Paxton said that the state intends to pursue the company for these alleged privacy breaches. "We will hold Netflix accountable for violating the privacy of Texas families," Paxton said [2].
The litigation focuses on whether the streaming service's internal algorithms and data-gathering tools bypass state consumer protection laws. The state argues that these practices are particularly harmful when applied to minors, who may not be able to provide informed consent regarding their digital footprint [1].
“"Netflix's data collection practices amount to spying on Texas consumers, especially children,"”
This lawsuit reflects a growing trend of state-level legal challenges against the 'attention economy,' where government officials target the specific design choices intended to maximize user screen time. If the court finds that Netflix's engagement features constitute an illegal harvest of data, it could set a precedent for how streaming services must handle the privacy of minors across the U.S.
