In a surprising twist, Texas is taking Netflix to court, claiming the streaming giant has broken promises about being ad-free and kid-friendly. This matters because, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Netflix has allegedly turned into the very thing it once criticized: a platform that exploits user data.
The lawsuit suggests Netflix’s introduction of an ad-supported plan in 2022 was a bait-and-switch. Once advertised as an escape from Big Tech’s watchful eye, Netflix now stands accused of building a ‘behavior-surveillance program.’ This program supposedly collects detailed user info, including location and device data, which is then shared with data brokers like Experian and Acxiom.
Netflix’s shift to ads has been financially successful, with its Basic tier subscribers doubling from 2024 to 2025. This isn’t Netflix’s first legal rodeo in Texas—remember the controversy over the ‘Cuties’ film? Paxton’s lawsuit aims to block Netflix’s data practices and force changes like disabling autoplay on kids’ profiles by default. As streaming platforms evolve, keep an eye on how these legal battles might shape their features and policies.
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