Friend
Professional
- Messages
- 2,653
- Reaction score
- 850
- Points
- 113
Who and why is eavesdropping on you through microphones in smart devices?
The American media company Cox Media Group (CMG) has been at the center of a scandal because of its advertising practices. In classified materials obtained by insiders, the company explicitly states that it is capable of targeting ads based on data collected through the microphones of smart devices such as smartphones and smart speakers.
In a customer presentation obtained by 404 Media, the company claims that the technology, called Active Listening, collects and analyzes voice data in real time to create targeted audiences that are then used to serve ads.
CMG says it has partnered with giants such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook, although the details of that collaboration remain unclear. For example, Google, in response to a request from 404 Media, stated that it had removed CMG from its affiliate program after verification, indicating that all advertisers must comply with laws and regulations, as well as Google Ads policies.
In turn, Amazon and Meta deny participating in the Active Listening program. For example, Amazon said it had never worked with CMG on this program, and Meta noted that it was considering checking the company's activities for violations of the terms of cooperation.
The CMG presentation does not disclose the sources of voice data or specify which devices or applications may be used to collect it. However, it says that the company can target ads to people within a radius of 15 km for $100 a day, and within a radius of 30 km for $200.
The scandal erupted after 404 Media first reported the existence of the Active Listening program in December last year. At the time, CMG's website said, "What would it mean for your business if you could target potential customers actively discussing their needs in everyday conversations?"
The incident also drew attention to MindSift, a small New Hampshire-based company whose employees boasted on their own podcast of the ability to target ads based on recordings of people's conversations through the microphones of smart devices. After this became known to the general public, the company's social networks became inactive, and references to this technology were removed from their pages.
Despite the scandal, Microsoft representatives declined to comment on the cooperation with CMG and the possible consequences for the company. Now the future of the Active Listening program remains in question, especially against the backdrop of increasing pressure on large tech companies.
Source
The American media company Cox Media Group (CMG) has been at the center of a scandal because of its advertising practices. In classified materials obtained by insiders, the company explicitly states that it is capable of targeting ads based on data collected through the microphones of smart devices such as smartphones and smart speakers.
In a customer presentation obtained by 404 Media, the company claims that the technology, called Active Listening, collects and analyzes voice data in real time to create targeted audiences that are then used to serve ads.
CMG says it has partnered with giants such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook, although the details of that collaboration remain unclear. For example, Google, in response to a request from 404 Media, stated that it had removed CMG from its affiliate program after verification, indicating that all advertisers must comply with laws and regulations, as well as Google Ads policies.
In turn, Amazon and Meta deny participating in the Active Listening program. For example, Amazon said it had never worked with CMG on this program, and Meta noted that it was considering checking the company's activities for violations of the terms of cooperation.
The CMG presentation does not disclose the sources of voice data or specify which devices or applications may be used to collect it. However, it says that the company can target ads to people within a radius of 15 km for $100 a day, and within a radius of 30 km for $200.
The scandal erupted after 404 Media first reported the existence of the Active Listening program in December last year. At the time, CMG's website said, "What would it mean for your business if you could target potential customers actively discussing their needs in everyday conversations?"
The incident also drew attention to MindSift, a small New Hampshire-based company whose employees boasted on their own podcast of the ability to target ads based on recordings of people's conversations through the microphones of smart devices. After this became known to the general public, the company's social networks became inactive, and references to this technology were removed from their pages.
Despite the scandal, Microsoft representatives declined to comment on the cooperation with CMG and the possible consequences for the company. Now the future of the Active Listening program remains in question, especially against the backdrop of increasing pressure on large tech companies.
Source
