The potential for internet-connected devices to eavesdrop on conversations for advertising purposes has been a topic of discussion for quite some time now. Many have described cases where they got ads for a specific product shortly after talking to someone about it. Now, a leak reveals that a Facebook partner has software that listens to people to develop better-targeted ads.
You may have also been involved in a similar situation. Perhaps one day, you mentioned a product you were interested in, and shortly after, you noticed an advertisement related to it. This could also occur when you discuss shows or series. However, there was no way to objectively prove that a particular device or app was constantly listening to you.
Leak reveals Facebook partner listening to people’s conversations for targeted ads
Cox Media Group (CMG), one of the big players in TV and radio in the US, reportedly has “Active Listening” software that does just that. According to the 404 Media report, the software would use an artificial intelligence model to capture useful parts of user conversations. The company would collect the data using mobile phones and other devices with microphones connected to the Internet. Then, CMG would use data on the person’s behavior and conversations to create more effective targeted ads.
There are not many technical details on how CMG captured the conversations. If it does so with customers, it may use its own apps. However, to achieve this, they would also require the user to grant sensitive permissions, such as microphone access. Anyway, there are countless cases of people who download an app and simply grant all the requested permissions. Sadly, not many stop to think about the potential implications.
The 404 Media team discovered the “Active Listening” software through a CMG presentation that reached their hands. A post on the Cox official blog already suggested the existence of something similar. “We know what you’re thinking. Is this even legal? It is legal for phones and devices to listen to you. When a new app download or update prompts consumers with a multi-page term of use agreement somewhere in the fine print, Active Listening is often included,” the now-deleted blog post said.
Google and Amazon reportedly involved
In addition to Facebook, Google and Amazon appeared on Cox’s list of customers for the software that listens to people’s conversations for targeted ads. However, in response to the report, Google removed the company from its Partner Program list. In the meantime, Meta is still reportedly studying the situation to determine what action to take.
2024-09-04 15:08:40