Texas Sues Netflix for Alleged Data Privacy Violations Involving Children
Texas has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging illegal collection and sharing of children’s data.
Why it matters: State lawsuits over data privacy show rising regulatory risks for tech platforms, especially regarding minors. Legal and compliance teams at streaming services face increased exposure as states focus enforcement on user data and child safety.
- Texas sued Netflix on May 11, 2026, citing data privacy and child protection issues.
- Lawsuit claims Netflix collected and shared user and children's data with third parties without consent.
- Texas seeks civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
- Netflix denies wrongdoing, stating it complies with privacy and data-protection laws.
On May 11, 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against Netflix, alleging the platform collected, tracked, and monetized sensitive personal information on users—including minors—without proper consent. Texas claims Netflix tracked viewing habits, device details, and network usage, then shared these details with advertisers and data brokers.
The complaint also alleges Netflix designed features like autoplay to increase children's screen time, helping it gather more data from minors. Paxton said, "Netflix is not the ad-free and kid-friendly platform it claims to be. Instead, it has misled consumers while exploiting their private data to make billions."
Texas seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The state has not identified the total number of violations or the full penalties potentially at stake.
Netflix rejects these accusations, with a spokesperson saying, "Netflix takes our members’ privacy seriously and complies with privacy and data‑protection laws everywhere we operate," and describing the complaint as "based on inaccurate and distorted information."
This enforcement effort follows a series of lawsuits by Texas targeting tech firms, including cases involving TikTok and Meta, focusing on protecting children's privacy online. (Forbes)
Yes, but: The lawsuit does not specify how many violations occurred or the exact amount in penalties sought, leaving uncertainty about the potential financial impact.