Ford Patents In-Car System That Eavesdrops So It Can Play You Ads

Red@reddthat.com to Technology@beehaw.org – 2 points –
motortrend.com

It could also identify your voice and recognize you and your ad preferences, and those of your passengers.

Why...

14

m-maybe they're just patenting it so nobody can use it 🥺

Lots of ideas are patented, especially by large companies. Some ideas are pursued by the company themselves, while others sit in the patent war chest to (maybe) generate passive income and help with future litigation. Very occasionally they are used for prevention.

Regardless, such a system would be a reason for many people to avoid buying a particular car or brand of car.

Hey other automakers looking for an exciting new feature, you can always advertise NOT snooping as a feature and "add value" without having to do squat. Think about it, less scummy companies! (if they still exist)

Until there is a hard kill switch for the cellular connection, they can’t claim to not be scummy

If it recognizes me it would know my ad preference is none. What is it with paid items/subscriptions and ads? I already paid. Fuck off. If I see paid stuff with ads I go out of my way to not use it.

Well, then you're going to hear

Limited offer! Sign up until September 30 for Ford Fun Plus and get a year of ad-free rides at just $10 per month!

most of the time, much like Spotify.
(Last time I was in a Spotify-"enhanced" waiting room was 6 years ago so no idea if that still holds.)

Used cars are going to get much more valuable with all the enshitified crap they keep putting in new cars.

I feel like there might be an emerging market for a car company that makes new, safe cars with very low tech computer systems.

Ah who am I kidding, I wish there was a market for all kinds of functional-but-not-enshittified products out there, but the complete lack of them shows the entrenched powers that be will stomp out any attempt to upset the terrible status quo.