Samsung Class Action Lawsuit TV 2026, $1B+ Privacy Case Filed Jan 9 Over Illegal Viewing Data Tracking—Plus Active QLED False Advertising Litigation

Samsung faces two major TV-related class actions as of February 2026. Five plaintiffs filed the class action complaint against Samsung on Jan. 9 in New York federal court, alleging violations of state and federal privacy laws, claiming automatic content recognition software secretly tracks what millions watch and sells this data to advertisers. Separately, a 2023 California case alleges Samsung falsely advertised QLED TVs as having gaming features they lack.

The privacy lawsuit could affect millions of Samsung smart TV owners, with potential damages exceeding $1 billion under the Video Privacy Protection Act’s $2,500 per violation penalty.

What Is The January 2026 Privacy Lawsuit About?

The lawsuit claims Samsung’s smart TVs include automatic content recognition (ACR) software that tracks what consumers watch and shares this data with advertisers. Samsung faces a federal class action lawsuit alleging the company embeds automatic content recognition software in its smart TVs that secretly tracks what millions of Americans watch and sells this viewing data to advertisers like Google and X (formerly Twitter) for profit—all without obtaining proper consent from TV owners.

The class action claims Samsung smart TVs contain automatic content recognition technology—ACR—that identifies what you’re watching by analyzing video content in real-time, capturing screenshots of your television display every 500 milliseconds (twice per second) to monitor viewing activity.

Similar to the Roku TV Class Action Lawsuit, Black Screen Defect Investigation Active, Plus Children’s Privacy Cases, consumers allege manufacturers profit from surveillance while hiding behind buried privacy disclosures.

The QLED False Advertising Case

Plaintiff Sergio Rodriguez filed a class action lawsuit against Samsung Electronics America and Best Buy Co., Inc., claiming that the company has falsely advertised its Samsung QLED televisions as having features that they do not have. Filed in July 2023, this separate California case remains active.

Rodriguez purchased a Samsung 50-inch Class Q80A Series QLED 4K TV in Orange County, California, in early 2022. “Specifically, the resolution was not as clear as expected, the refresh rate was slow resulting in choppy motion, and to Plaintiff’s surprise, the TV was not performing at 120Hz,” the complaint states.

The suit alleges some Samsung Qled 4K televisions are not fitted with Motion Xcelerator Turbo+, FreeSync or Hdmi 2.1, as advertised. The features are said to allow smooth gaming experiences.

Who Qualifies For These Lawsuits?

Privacy Case: Any U.S. resident who owns or owned a Samsung smart TV equipped with ACR technology. Like many consumer privacy class actions, these plaintiffs seek to represent a nationwide class of all U.S. residents who own Samsung smart TVs equipped with ACR technology and had their viewing information collected, stored, or disclosed to third parties.

QLED Case: California consumers who purchased Samsung QLED Q80A or similar models advertised with gaming features like 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync, or HDMI 2.1 between 2021-2023.

What Laws Are Allegedly Violated?

The privacy lawsuit alleges violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act and state privacy laws. The VPPA allows $2,500 in damages per violation—meaning if Samsung tracked thousands of viewing sessions per user, damages could be astronomical.

The QLED case alleges violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law, and Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

Related article: Midland Credit Management Lawsuit 2026, No New Settlement—But $57M In Past Penalties Show Pattern Of Violations, CFPB Complaints Up 85% Since 2022

Current Status And What Happens Next

Both cases remain in active litigation with no settlements reached. As of mid-January 2026, Samsung has not issued a public statement specifically addressing the New York federal class action allegations.

The New York filing follows closely on the heels of separate but related legal action in Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits on December 15, 2025, against five major TV manufacturers—Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL—alleging similar ACR surveillance practices.

What Should Samsung TV Owners Do?

If you own a Samsung smart TV and want to stop data collection now: navigate to Settings > Support > Terms & Policies > SyncPlus and Marketing > disable “Viewing Information Services.”

Preserve documentation showing you disabled ACR tracking in case you want to file claims if settlements are reached. Take screenshots of your privacy settings dated now.

Monitor case developments at the official settlement website once established, or check Top Class Actions for updates on both lawsuits.

FAQs

Is there a Samsung TV settlement I can claim?

No. As of February 2026, both the privacy case (filed Jan 9, 2026) and QLED case (filed July 2023) remain in litigation with no settlements reached.

What did Samsung allegedly do?

The privacy lawsuit claims Samsung embedded ACR software that takes screenshots of your TV every 500 milliseconds, tracks what you watch, and sells this data to advertisers without proper consent.

Which Samsung TVs are affected?

Privacy case: All Samsung smart TVs with ACR technology. QLED case: Q80A and similar models advertised with gaming features.

How much could I get if there’s a settlement?

The VPPA allows $2,500 per violation. Similar privacy settlements have paid $15-$200 per person, but amounts depend on total claims filed.

Can I still use my Samsung TV?

Yes. You can disable ACR tracking through privacy settings. The lawsuit doesn’t prevent TV use.

When will these cases be resolved?

Privacy cases typically take 2-4 years. The QLED case filed in 2023 could settle sooner.

Are other TV brands being sued?

Yes. Texas sued Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL in December 2025 over similar ACR practices.

Last Updated: February 14, 2026

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about ongoing Samsung TV litigation and is not legal advice.

What To Do: Samsung TV owners should disable ACR tracking in privacy settings and preserve documentation for potential future claims.

Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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