According to the source, Florida officials claim Netflix misled parents about surveillance practices and failed to provide clear disclosures regarding the behavioral data it gathers from children’s devices.
The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages and reflects Florida’s increasingly aggressive stance against major technology firms regarding child safety and data privacy.
Uthmeier argues that Netflix shifted from a subscription-only model that prioritized user privacy to an "advertising machine" that profits from children’s viewing habits.
This case follows similar litigation from the state against TikTok, OpenAI, and Meta, positioning Florida as a leading regulator against what officials describe as harmful digital infrastructure.
If the court rules in favor of the state, Netflix could be forced to purge all data collected deceptively and stop using information gathered before its ad-tier transition.
The complaint focuses on technical mechanisms like the default "autoplay" feature, which Uthmeier claims undermines parental control by keeping children glued to screens.
While Netflix has previously stated it does not run targeted ads while minors are watching, the lawsuit alleges the platform still tracks substantial behavioral data, including what users click, replay, or avoid.