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Google & Facebook partner admits it can listen to device microphone to serve ads - Dexerto (www.dexerto.com)

submitted 2 months ago by Stopthatgirl7@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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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.

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[+] N0body@lemmy.dbzer0.com -6 points 2 months ago (9 children)

”In most moments of the day, there’s a smart device in within two-inch radius of us. That means a smart device is likely within earshot when we talk about our plans for the weekend, how badly we need our kitchen remodeled, or which SUV model is best for the family with our spouse, and so much more,” the company wrote.

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?

[–] IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Yes. This is Bigfoot territory dumb and ignorant.

[–] N0body@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Who could possibly imagine Google and Facebook doing something unethical, then lying about it?

[–] IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world -3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] N0body@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

If a device can start listening when you say, "Hey Siri," it can also start listening when you say other words.

[–] dan@upvote.au 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

So far, nobody has proven that any major phone apps are constantly listening and sending that data somewhere. That would be huge news if it ever happened.

For voice assistants, they're tuned to listen specifically for wake words like "hey Siri".

[–] IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Let me ask, do you understand how the wake word chip works? Or are you just imagining an absurd edge case where a researcher some how gaps the bridged chips while having the device in person?

What do you believe is a viable attack vector that somehow nobody knows about?

[–] RaoulDook@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Have you read the source code for the programming for those chips? Do you know exactly how they work?

Voice recognition is highly subjective, and some of you actually trust billionaire's companies enough to take their word that their devices will only listen for certain special words? Ridiculous.

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