A marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”
How can they technically do that? They would need their own app because Android by itself isn’t listening (it does while using voice command). And why would they say they can while it’s against the law to do it (at least in Europe, but I guess in the USA too).
Yeah it sounds sus. Apple themselves published an explanation of how siri doesn’t actively listen to you all the time, so I’m not sure how they can bypass that.
I’d guess they’re planning on making their own stuff that does. I’ve already seen a “free” TV with an extra screen that just shows ads, has a camera, etc.
People are suckers, and there’s plenty of unscrupulous companies willing to monetise that.
Well, “actually listening to your phone” is a very strong statement (which I think it’s false) and completely different from what you’ve reported. This sounds to me to a very big fake news!