Google & Facebook partner admits it can listen to device microphone to serve ads - Dexerto
dexerto.com
A media firm that has worked with the likes of Google and Meta has admitted that it can target adverts based on what you said out loud near device microphones.
Media conglomerate Cox Media Group (CMG) has been pitching tech companies on a new targeted advertising tool that uses audio recordings collected from smart home devices, according to a 404 Media investigation. The company is partners with Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Bing.
In a pitch deck presented to Google, Facebook, and others in November 2023, CMG referred to the technology used for monitoring and active listening as “Voice Data.” The firm also mentioned using artificial intelligence to collect data about consumers’ online behavior.
they've claimed the same last year in December, and it turned out they were overselling their capabilities
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/12/no-a-marketing-firm-isnt-tapping-your-device-to-hear-private-conversations/
Some people really will believe anything, as long as you're trash talking big tech. And this platform is particularly bad.
Like hell are they able to just tap into your microphone like that, both Android and I OS have that locked down.
Just say something like you should be paying for YouTube (via ads or premium) and brace for the swarm.
I'd pay if they actually offered a better service. But they don't, so I use alternatives that do:
Both of those offer a better experience than YouTube premium (in terms of app features). If YouTube offered a higher quality experience, I'd be more interested in paying for it.
So, I instead just donate to/buy merch from creators I really appreciate and avoid the YouTube app. The only reason Google is involved is because of the network effect, not because they actually provide a good service, so I don't feel bad cheating them out of their ad revenue.
I bailed on Netflix and Disney+, but I refuse to torrent, so I rip DVDs and Blurays to my Jellyfin instance.
You should read the 404 piece, it's considerably less sensational and doesn't flat lie in the headline. I hate Big Tech too, but this is very bad framing.
Can you pass a link?
it's the link above: https://www.404media.co/heres-the-pitch-deck-for-active-listening-ad-targeting/
A bundle of people say they have a paywall but they don't, they have an AI-bot-wall which can be got around with a free account. I'd recommend it tbh because they are doing very good work.
I pay the yearly subscription to support them as they are very much a rare entity in tech media: independent, reader-supported, and willing to ask difficult questions of tech companies, not fawn over their newest doodads.
Hmmm...
That looks pretty paywally to me. That said, I'm all for people supporting independent media.
I don't know if I'm allowed to share here, but there's an... how could I say... alternative... archive snapshot, from the moment when the paywall weren't in place yet... It's available today at a site that are known for archiving things. 😀
I'll allow it.
Facebook and Google swear they cast it into the fire, because they don’t want to take away your privacy to make money. Do you believe them?
Yes. This is Bigfoot territory dumb and ignorant.
Who could possibly imagine Google and Facebook doing something unethical, then lying about it?
Ignorant lemmings who don't understand there are billions and billions of dollars going into Sec ops research who would give both their nuts, ovaries, or whatever to make this discovery and can't be bothered to understand how the hardware chip powering the on word works.
If a device can start listening when you say, "Hey Siri," it can also start listening when you say other words.