Although many moreć have suspected it for a long time, now the available information says that our mobile phones are really listening in on us. One of Facebook’s marketing partners has detailed how the company eavesdrops on users’ conversations to create targeted ads, the Daily Mail reports.
Cox Media Group (CMG) claims its ‘Active-Listening’ software uses AI to collect and analyze ‘real-time intent data’ listening to what you say through your phone, laptop or microphone.
– Advertisers can match voice data with behavioral data to target customers in the market – it is stated.
Meta – Facebook’s parent company has admitted it is investigating CMG for terms of service violations. While Amazon claims its ad arm ‘has never worked with CMG and has no plans to do so.’
The slideshow details the six-step process that CMG’s active listening software uses to collect user voice data from virtually any device equipped with a microphone, including a smartphone or laptop.
It is not clear whether the Active-Listening software listens all the time or only at certain times when the phone’s microphone is activated, such as during a call.
Advertisers then use these insights to target ‘in-market consumers’, which are people who are actively considering purchasing a particular product or service.
If your voice or behavioral data suggests you’re thinking about buying something, we’ll serve you ads for that item.
For example, talking about or searching for Toyota cars might prompt you to start seeing ads for their latest models.
– Once activated, the technology automatically analyzes your site traffic and customers to drive audience targeting on an ongoing basis – it states.
They make money on what you say
So, if you seem to see more ads for a certain product after talking about it with a friend or searching online, that could be the reason.
For years, smart device users have assumed that their phones or tablets are listening to what they say. However, most technology companies firmly denied these claims.
– We understand that sometimes ads can be so specific that it seems like we’re listening to your conversations through a microphone, but we don’t do that – it says on Meta’s online privacy center.
The leak is just the latest development in a wave of reports suggesting that your phone really is listening to you and that sites like Facebook may be making money off of what you say.