If there's a Roku or TCL television sitting in your living room, it's worth taking five minutes to look into this. A class action lawsuit involving both brands has expanded to cover a significant number of models, and your TV could be on the list.
What's going on?
According to reporting from Lifehacker, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Roku and TCL, and the list of affected TV models is wide enough that a lot of everyday households may be unknowingly included. The details of the specific allegations haven't been elaborated upon in the summary, but class action suits involving smart TVs have historically centered on issues like data privacy, undisclosed data collection, or misleading advertising claims - all topics that have become increasingly relevant as our home devices get smarter.
TCL is one of the best-selling TV brands in the US, and Roku's operating system powers a huge chunk of the budget-to-midrange smart TV market. Together, that's a massive slice of American living rooms potentially caught up in this.
How to check if your TV is included
The most important step right now is simple - find your TV's model number and cross-reference it with the official list of devices named in the lawsuit. Model numbers are usually printed on a sticker on the back of the TV or listed in the settings menu under "About" or "Device info." Lifehacker has published the full breakdown of which models are covered, so that's your best starting point.
Being part of a class action doesn't require you to do much upfront. In most cases, if a settlement is reached, affected owners can submit a claim - often online - to receive compensation. The amounts in consumer tech class actions vary widely, but it's generally free money sitting on the table if you qualify.
Why this matters beyond the lawsuit
Even if you're not personally motivated to pursue a claim, this is a good reminder to stay aware of what your smart devices are doing in the background. Smart TVs in particular have faced scrutiny over automatic content recognition (ACR) technology, which tracks viewing habits and sells that data to advertisers. Most platforms allow you to opt out - it just usually isn't the default setting.
Take a look at your TV's privacy settings while you're at it. It takes about two minutes and could give you a bit more control over what your television knows about you.
Check the full list of affected models over at Lifehacker to see if your device qualifies.
