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Netflix Sued For Spying On Kids, Collecting User Data Without Consent, And Making The Platform Addictive As Social Media Reacts: 'A Huge Privacy Red Flag'

May 19, 2026 by Abigail Connolly
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Netflix, one of the world’s most popular streaming platforms, is facing some pretty serious allegations in a new lawsuit.

Amid a trend of lawsuits against big tech companies and the people who run them, the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, recently filed one against Netflix. In his lawsuit, the attorney claimed the platform was responsible for some sketchy behavior, including collecting and giving away people’s personal data, as well as purposefully creating an “addictive” site format that encourages people of all ages to keep watching. Read more about the claims the attorney made against Netflix and how social media users reacted below.

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Texas's Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Netflix

Given that we're living in such a digital age, where smartphones are a massive part of our everyday lives, and it's nearly impossible to get through the day without using some kind of tech service, it's also assumed that things can get a little dicey.

 

Over the last few years, more people and tech users have been increasing their complaints against certain tech companies and certain media platforms. Many are growing concerned for their safety and privacy, worried about their data getting into the hands of companies or people who don't have their best interests in mind, as well as how these platforms can affect their mental health.

 

Not long after Meta and Google recently lost a court battle against a woman who claimed their addictive platforms caused her mental health issues, Ken Paxton, the current Attorney General of the state of Texas, filed a lawsuit against Netflix, one of the world's most renowned movie, series, and game streaming platforms. The site has long evolved from its days as a service that would mail you DVDs to rent, becoming now just a subscription-based online service, but also its own production company, creating original material. Now, Paxton is accusing them of putting their customers at risk.

 

Paxton has accused Netflix of purposefully making their platform and content harmfully addictive, putting both children and adults at risk, as well as "illegally" collecting user data and selling it to commercial data brokers and advertising technology companies.

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Social Media Users React To Paxton's Lawsuit

The news of the lawsuit broke at the start of last week, and in his statements, the attorney stressed that he wanted the platform to take accountability, go back to being a safe place for consumers, and be held accountable for its actions.

 

"Netflix has built a surveillance program designed to illegally collect and profit from Texans' personal data without their consent, and my office will do everything in our power to stop it," he 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. I will continue to work to protect Texas families from deceptive practices by Big Tech companies and ensure that corporations are held accountable under Texas law."

 

On various social media platforms, users began responding to Paxton's lawsuit, with many of them in agreement. It's a similar trend to when Meta lost in court, as people were starting to get excited by the idea of large tech companies and brands being held accountable and to a higher standard after putting their users at risk while collecting more money.

 

"That's a huge privacy red flag," reacted an Instagram user to the allegations.

 

"This explains why they just raised the prices again!" speculated another. "Getting ready to pay up on this lawsuit."

 

"I hope they take them for all of it," added a user, with another commenting, "Time to delete Netflix."

Author:

Editorial Assistant

Abigail is a journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. As an Editorial Assistant for SheFinds, she covers topics ranging from celebrity news and fashion to wellness. She has written for other publications, including Chip Chick, Bandsintown, BroadwayWorld, and more. When she isn't writing, Abigail loves spending time in the city with her friends, being a 'dog mom' to her Chihuahua, and singing along to some of her favorite music.

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