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Marketing company CMG Local Solutions claims it invades people’s privacy by using “voice data” by listening to their phones and smart devices to reach “the EXACT people” companies seek.
404 Media reports, “Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads.”
CMG calls this blatant privacy invasion “Active Listening” in its marketing materials and on its website. Or at least they did.
That page now redirects to the company’s home page, but it can still be viewed on Internet Archive.
There it reads, “Active Listening begins and is analyzed via AI to detect pertinent conversations via smartphones, smart tvs and other devices.”
“Imagine This…” the site continues. “What could it do for your business, if you were able to target potential clients or customers who are using terms like this in their day to day conversations: The car lease ends in a month-we need a plan; A mini van would be perfect for us; We need to get serious about planning for retirement; This AC is on it’s last leg; We need a better mortgage rate; Do I see mold on the ceiling?”
CMG continues, “We know this sounds like something from the future, but we are there! We can customize your campaign to listen for any keywords/targets relevant to your business.”
Actually, this sounds like something that if it isn’t already, should be illegal.
They’ve already got an answer for that though.
“We know what you are thinking…” the website states.
“Is this legal? YES- it is totally legal for phones and devices to listen to you. That’s because consumers usually give consent when accepting terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads.”
Considering the terms and conditions of most apps and software updates (which if you don’t utilize could cripple your device or make it more open to hackers) are often multiple pages long, that seems like a pretty flimsy argument.
The company also states in its marketing materials, “At a basic level, your smartphone is technically always listening.” As if that excuses the practice of eavesdropping to target ads at consumers.
They also claims that this “practice is good for both consumers and businesses,” which is certainly debatable.
It also lists Amazon ads, Facebook, Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and others as partners on that same web page.
However, when media outlets like 404 Media and others asked CMG, Cox Communications, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and the Federal Communications Commission for comment, none of them responded.