Facebook and Google partner admits to eavesdropping through smartphones
The firm Cox Media Group, a marketing company partnered with Facebook and Google, made a startling admission during a pitch deck to investors. They revealed that their "Active Listening" software uses Artificial Intelligence to capture real-time intent data by listening to conversations through smartphone microphones. This data is then combined with behavioral information to target potential customers with ads.
Microphone Listening for Ad Targeting
On 26th August, it was reported by New York Post that Cox Media Group acknowledged listening to users' smartphone microphones. The company stated that the collected information is used to personalize advertisements based on the content of conversations. The data collected from over 470 channels helps in creating targeted ads for in-market customers.
Adherence to Policies
Following this revelation, Google took action by removing CMG from its partner program website. A Google spokesperson emphasized the importance of compliance with laws and Google Ads policies, taking appropriate measures against violators. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, also stated that they are investigating CMG to ensure terms are not violated.
Legal Concerns and User Experience
There have been concerns raised about the legality of active listening by devices equipped with microphones. CMG addressed this issue in a now-deleted blog post, highlighting the inclusion of Active Listening in terms of use agreements. Users have reported instances of seeing targeted ads related to their conversations, leading to questions about the privacy and ethics of such practices.
Reports of ads appearing after casual conversations, without active search queries, have sparked debates on the extent of surveillance enabled by microphone-equipped devices. The implications of such data collection on user privacy and targeted advertising strategies continue to be a topic of discussion.
