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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 [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 142 points 2 months ago (8 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (7 children)

Can you pass a link?

[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (6 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Sorry, was definitely reading this 90% asleep as I rolled out of bed. Thanks for the extra link anyway.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

absolutely no bother at all i was posting from bed too

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