A marketing firm has confirmed it listens to users’ conversations through their own phones, raising serious privacy concerns.
A recent revelation has shocked many people: a marketing firm has admitted to using smartphones to eavesdrop on conversations.
We have now confirmed that this practice, once thought to be speculative, is indeed real.
It raises significant concerns about privacy and data security.
Marketing firm confirms to listen in users’ conversations through their own phones
In a shocking revelation, a marketing firm has admitted to using smartphone microphones to listen in on users’ conversations.
This practice, which many have long suspected, was confirmed in a report highlighting the firm’s “Active Listening” software.
The marketing company, serving major clients like Facebook and Google, uses artificial intelligence to capture real-time data from conversations.
They then tailor advertisements based on what they hear.
How does a marketing firm listen to users’ conversations through phones?
According to the report by 404 Media, Cox Media Group (CMG) disclosed this information in a pitch deck aimed at investors.
“Advertisers can pair this voice data with behavioral data to target in-market consumers,” the company wrote in the pitch deck.
The firm explained that its technology, allows advertisers to combine voice data with behavioral information to target consumers more effectively.
This strategy takes advantage of the wealth of data generated by users’ conversations and online activities.
CMG stated that people leave a digital trail based on their spoken words and online behavior, which can be analyzed through the software.
The company claims to gather data from over 470 different sources, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of consumer intent.
“All advertisers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations as well as our Google Ads policies,
and when we identify ads or advertisers that violate these policies, we will take appropriate action,” a Google spokesperson said.
“Meta does not use your phone’s microphone for ads and we’ve been public about this for years,” a Meta spokesperson told The Post.
“We are reaching out to CMG to get them to clarify that their program is not based on Meta data.”
This method raises significant privacy concerns, as many users remain unaware that their devices could be monitoring them in such a way.
In response to these revelations, Google has distanced itself from CMG.
A spokesperson emphasized that all advertisers must adhere to legal standards and Google Ads policies.
The company stated that it would take necessary action against any advertisers found to be violating these rules.
Meanwhile, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is conducting a review to determine whether CMG’s practices breach its terms of service.
They have publicly denied using phone microphones for advertising purposes.
The legality of such practices has also come under scrutiny.
CMG previously indicated that it is legal for devices to listen to users, often buried in lengthy terms of service agreements that users accept without fully understanding.
Social media reactions
On social media, many users expressed their anger over the revelation.
They feel violated and betrayed, believing their privacy has been disregarded. Comments flooded in, calling for stricter regulations on data collection.
People are demanding that companies be more transparent about using personal information.
After talk with friend or family … some social media will show related advertisement for me, one user said.
Maybe we should all quote Bible verses and sing Hymns…Really give them an ear full, the second user commented.
They can do this with your TV set too. There is a chip in most all TV’s that your TV can be activated to spy on you, the third user said.
But we’ve been told this was a conspiracy? And there was always other explanations for it, another wrote.
That’s why you get those advertisements on your phone right after you talk about wanting something, someone said.